Patients' perceptions of physicians' epistemic authority when recommending flu inoculation

Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
Yoram Bar-TalRenata A Maksymiuk

Abstract

Patient perception of physician expertise has important implications for adherence to treatment. This study investigates factors that may influence a patient's perception of a physician's knowledge and expertise (i.e., epistemic authority; EA). These factors are agreement with the physician regarding inoculation against the flu, physician gender, and treatment setting (private vs. public). The sample consisted of 187 participants (111 women and 76 men). Data were collected using four scenarios, each illustrating a visit to a physician (female or male, working in private or public practice) who recommended (for or against) the flu inoculation. The physician's recommendation was manipulated in a between-subjects design. The study participants' preference regarding flu inoculation was measured before they were shown the scenarios. The dependent measure was a six-item rating of the EA attributed to the physician described in the scenario. Physicians who recommended inoculation were perceived as having significantly higher EA than those who recommended against it. In addition, correspondence between the participant's preference and the physician's recommendation affected the physician's EA only in the condition where the physician r...Continue Reading

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