Patient-centered communication (PCC) is considered efficient in building patient trust in healthcare providers, but little is known about how various dimensions of the two constructs interact. Moreover, our understanding of the role of patients’ communicative behaviors in such interactions is limited. Addressing the gaps, this study analyzed survey data ( N = 4038) with psychological network analysis to explore multidimensional interactions, identify the central dimensions of the two focal constructs, and compare networks based on whether patients discuss online health information with healthcare providers. Results showed different interconnection patterns among patients who discuss online health information with healthcare providers and patients who do not. This study contributes to the literature by disentangling multidimensional connections between PCC and patient trust in healthcare providers and highlights the significance of patients’ participation and preferences.
Zheng et al. (2026) studied this question.