Generating Confidence in the Healthcare System through Information Activities of Healthcare Institutions

Abstract

The modern snowballing development of informatization processes significantly impacts the healthcare sector, especially the doctor-patient relationship. It requires the analysis of the social, psychological, and moral aspects of the doctor-patient relationship in the information society to search for more effective models of medical communication, increase the trust in the healthcare system, and develop the mechanisms for resolving growing conflicts and contradictions in the doctor-patient relationship. Thus, this study aims to assess the healthcare of Ukraine to elaborate the recommendations for the administration of the healthcare institutions on conducting the relevant information activities to increase the trust level in the healthcare system. This study involved comparative, analytical, statistical, and questionnaire research methods to achieve the above goal. The research information base is the legal framework, relevant scientific treatises, scientific and practical conference materials, statistical reference books, and Internet resources. The quantitative research relies on a questionnaire survey of 203 inhabitants of the Sumy region conducted on social networks and public hospitals. The survey findings showed that most population does not trust the healthcare system of Ukraine and assesses the state of medicine as satisfactory. At the same time, the information policy in Ukraine requires improvements, while employees of healthcare institutions should be more engaged in innovative development. The survey results confirmed the low communication between doctors and patients. Therefore, this study recommends strengthening the relationships between doctors and patients and increasing the information literacy of medical professionals. The obtained results have practical value. They could be helpful to the healthcare institutions’ administration in conducting information activities concerning improving the patients’ attitude toward the healthcare system and state healthcare institutions; raising the information literacy among citizens and medical workers; ensuring a responsible attitude of the people toward their health; paying sufficient attention to disease prevention under the family doctor’s recommendations.