Partisanship and Trust in Personal Doctors: Causes and Consequences

• In Event: Trust and Public Opinion

Abstract

In the last decade, people’s trust in their own personal doctor, and their reported compliance with their doctor’s advice, has polarized along partisan and ideological lines. Conservatives have become less trusting than liberals. Why did this happen and what are the consequences? We argue that the COVID crisis not only decreased trust in doctors on COVID-related topics (e.g., masking, vaccinations), but this has spilled over into a broader distrust of the institution of medicine, and of one’s own personal doctor. Using survey and conjoint experiments we demonstrate that when a partisan valence is attached to the medical community, trust in one’s own doctor and their willingness to follow their doctor’s advice, also polarizes. We find that today, perceived partisanship is as important as race and gender when choosing a healthcare provider.

Authors

• Neil O'Brian, University of Oregon

• Thomas Bradley Kent, US Department of State