Does Internet Use Aggravate Public Distrust of Doctors? Evidence from China

Lingpeng Meng, Xiang Yu, Chuanfeng Han and Pihui Liu
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Lingpeng Meng: China Institute of FTZ Supply Chain, Shanghai Maritime University, Room 427, Container Supply Chain Building, Harbour Avenue No. 1550, Pudong District, Shanghai 201306, China
Xiang Yu: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
Chuanfeng Han: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
Pihui Liu: School of Management Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250000, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: The internet has exacerbated the spillover of medical information, and changes in the quantity, quality, and scope of information supply also affect public trust in doctors, which is of great significance to the construction of a harmonious physician–patient relationship. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between internet use and residents’ trust in doctors using data from the China Family Panel Studies for 2018. The empirical investigation utilizes an endogenous switching regression model (ESR) to overcome the endogeneity bias. Our results indicate that internet use is negatively associated with residents’ trust in doctors (β = 0.07, p < 0.05). Specifically, the patient trust of internet users is nearly 7 percent less than that of non-internet users. Nevertheless, residents with higher dependence on traditional media such as television, newspapers, magazines and radio as an information channel show stronger patient trust. Finally, the results of the subsample analysis indicate a need to focus on older and less-educated residents, who are more vulnerable and more likely to be affected.

Keywords: internet; traditional media; patient trust; endogenous switching regression model; China; CFPS 2018 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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