Measuring the Impact of Humanistic Care: A Six-Item Scale to Enhance Patient Trust

UAB Medicine, a leading health system serving over 1.5 million patients annually, conducted a study to identify factors driving trust in primary care and family medicine. This joint initiative between UAB's Office of Patient Experience and Engagement, Department of Primary Care and Family Medicine, and the School of Health Professions aimed to measure trust and develop behavior-based guidelines to enhance patient interactions. Findings from the 2-phase study highlighted that clinicians who demonstrate concern, address patient questions, and remain fully present during encounters are significantly more likely to foster patient satisfaction. By operationalizing trust through observable clinician behaviors, this work extends beyond measurement to inform practical, scalable strategies for strengthening humanistic care. Building on these insights, UAB Medicine is expanding this work to examine trust-building across additional specialties to strengthen health outcomes.