The definition, assessment and perception of patient trust by dental professionals– A scoping review

Abstract

Abstract Background: A trusting dentist-patient relationship is pivotal in providing person-centred care. This scoping review aims to identify how trust is defined, measured in the dental literature and how trust is perceived by dental professionals. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework was adopted. A search strategy was developed using MeSH terms and key words. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis. Findings: Sixteen studies were included frequently using quantitative research methodology. Only 4 studies provided definition of trust. Many studies used either Dental Trust Scale or Dental Beliefs Survey to measure dentist-patient trust, although others developed their own items. Communication is a key aspect to measure trust. Limited research confirms that the dental professionals appreciated communication in building a trusting relationship with patients. Conclusion: No consensus was found on the definition of trust, nor on an assessment tool to measure dentist-patient trust. The limited evidence has found that dental professionals acknowledged the importance of effective communication in building a trusting alliance with patients. The scarcity of relevant research highlights the need for more robust investigations of trust in dental care.