title: Why public trust in health care systems matters and deserves greater research attention.
abstract: Considering the underlying importance of trust, there is too little research into the understanding, protection and recovery of trust in health care systems, not only for the effective functioning of health care systems but also for society in general. Several researchers have pointed towards a contemporary crisis of trust in health care systems and there have been many examples that show the severe effects of mistrust. More research into public trust in health care systems could contribute to improving efficiency while protecting the health of the public.
authors.affiliation: Research Degree Student, Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK felix.gille@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gille
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Professor of Health Policy, Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mays
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D035502:Trust
keywords: health care system; public trust; research