A Comparative Study from the Perspectives of Institutionalism and Culturalism of Patient Trust and Related Influencing Factors in the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan

Abstract

By analysing the Chinese General Social Survey and Taiwan Social Change Survey data from 2011, this article examines from institutionalist and culturalist perspectives the trust level and influencing factors of patients in the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan. Findings have demonstrated that trust levels of patients in the Mainland and Taiwan are internally differentiated, with a high level of general trust and a low level of specific trust. Second, patients in the Mainland have a higher level of general trust than patients in Taiwan, but their level of specific trust is lower than that of patients in Taiwan, which may be attributed to the influence of traditional Chinese culture and the social transition. Third, although institutional factors play a more significant role, consistency is embodied in institutional and cultural factors that affect the trust of patients in both the Mainland and Taiwan. However, in the Mainland, medical satisfaction has a greater impact on patients' trust, while, in Taiwan, medical equity, internet use and universal trust have stronger effects on patients' trust. Therefore, to improve patient trust in China and Taiwan, there should be greater focus on institutional factors, while not neglecting the cultural factors.