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. 2021 Jul 27;11(7):e049114. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049114

Table 2.

Perceived patients’ trust, clinical practicing characteristics and conflicting patient and employer interests

N (%)
Perceived trust in clinical competence
 Seldom 12 (1.8)
 Sometimes 89 (13.2)
 Often 418 (62.1)
 Always 154 (22.9)
Worries about unnecessary medicine
 Seldom 220 (32.7)
 Sometimes 285 (42.3)
 Often 129 (19.2)
 Always 39 (5.8)
Worries about unnecessary test
 Seldom 218 (32.4)
 Sometimes 274 (40.7)
 Often 137 (20.4)
 Always 44 (6.5)
Emotional support (total), mean (SD) 13.6 (2.3)
 I care about the psychological state of the patient (such as their worries and mood)
  Seldom 7 (1.0)
  Sometimes 64 (9.5)
  Often 377 (56.0)
  Always 225 (33.4)
 I am polite to patients
  Seldom 5 (0.7)
  Sometimes 24 (3.6)
  Often 282 (41.9)
  Always 362 (53.8)
 I have empathy for the patient (put myself in the patients’ situation)
  Seldom 6 (0.9)
  Sometimes 29 (4.3)
  Often 306 (45.5)
  Always 332 (49.3)
 I take care of the whole conditions of patients during consultation
  Seldom 7 (1.0)
  Sometimes 31 (4.6)
  Often 312 (46.4)
  Always 323 (48.0)
Diagnosis and treatment (total), mean (SD) 8.3 (2.0)
 I believe my diagnosis and management plans are up to date
  Seldom 58 (8.6)
  Sometimes 225 (33.4)
  Often 289 (42.9)
  Always 101 (15.0)
 I can differentiate most early-stage and undiagnosed illnesses
  Seldom 48 (7.1)
  Sometimes 206 (30.6)
  Often 332 (49.3)
  Always 87 (12.9)
 I can correctly refer my patients when they need referral care professionally
  Seldom 11 (1.6)
  Sometimes 130 (19.3)
  Often 398 (59.1)
  Always 134 (19.9)
Explanation and elaboration (total), mean (SD) 6.3 (1.3)
 I will give patients plenty of time to explain their condition
  Seldom 10 (1.5)
  Sometimes 70 (10.4)
  Often 363 (53.9)
  Always 230 (34.2)
 I have time to fully explain to the patient
  Seldom 11 (1.6)
  Sometimes 101 (15.0)
  Often 350 (52.0)
  Always 211 (31.4)
Conflicting patient and employer interests (total), mean (SD) 4.2 (1.1)
 I put the interests of patients first at work*
  Seldom 8 (1.2)
  Sometimes 51 (7.6)
  Often 331 (49.2)
  Always 283 (42.1)
 I need to consider how to make revenue for medical institutions
  Seldom 112 (16.6)
  Sometimes 218 (32.4)
  Often 242 (36.0)
  Always 101 (15.0)

seldom=1, sometimes=2, often=3 and always=4.

*This item was reversely coded.