Preserving Trust in the Doctor-Patient Interaction: Unveiling the Interactive Positive Evolutionary Process of Doctor-Patient Trust through fNIRS Evidence

Abstract Background: Effective doctor-patient interaction plays a crucial role in fostering trust between doctors and patients. This study aimed to construct an interactive positive evolution model of doctor-patient trust by incorporating key influencing factors (interaction needs and interaction modes) in the doctor-patient interaction context, drawing from the interpersonal trust model. This new model includes three trust stages: the bounded rational trust stage, the knowledge-based trust stage, and the identification-based trust stage. Methods: To validate the efficacy of the new model, interactive empirical experiments were conducted using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results: The behavior and fNIRS results revealed that the knowledge-based trust stage, characterized by mutual understanding, exhibited higher levels of doctor-patient trust, accompanied by increased inter-brain synchronization in the left inferior frontal gyrus, compared to the bounded rational trust stage. Furthermore, the identification-based trust stage, characterized by mutual positive feedback, demonstrated the highest levels of doctor-patient trust, with increased inter-brain synchronization observed in the bilateral temporoparietal junction and the right inferior frontal gyrus. Especially, the inter-brain synchronization results in the left temporoparietal junction region were positively correlated with the doctor’s trust. Conclusions: Therefore, we confirmed the effectiveness of the interactive, positive evolution model of doctor-patient trust and provided neural evidence that predicts the development of doctor-patient trust. This trust model offers valuable guidance for both medical student education and patient education, illuminating the path toward more effective and empathetic healthcare practices.