Examining the effect of health communication problems on healthcare system distrust

This research examines the effects of communication problems between patients and healthcare professionals on distrust of the healthcare system, according to the perception of inpatients. The research was conducted as a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample of the research was determined by the criterion sampling method, one of the purposeful sampling methods. Accordingly, individuals aged 18-65 who received treatment and care services in the inpatient units of Mardin Training and Research Hospital at least once in the last year constituted the study sample. The data of the research were obtained by using "Health Communication Problems Scale" and the "Healthcare System Distrust Scale". Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The study concluded that inpatients experienced low-level communication problems with healthcare professionals and perceived moderate levels of distrust towards the healthcare system. It has been observed that gender, educational status and previous hospitalization variables are influential variables in the communication problems experienced by patients with healthcare professionals. On the other hand, chronic disease and social security variables were found to be influential variables on the participants' perceptions of distrust towards the healthcare system. One of the most important results of the research is that health communication problems positively affect distrust in the healthcare system. As a result of the study, some suggestions were presented to reduce the communication problems experienced by patients who received treatment and care services in inpatient units with healthcare professionals and to reduce their perception of distrust towards the healthcare system. Key Words: Communication, Health Communication, Health Communication Problems, Trust, Health System, Health System Distrust