Trust Recovery: How One Honest Conversation Could Change a Smoker's Relationship With Healthcare
Smokers who trust their healthcare providers are more likely to attempt quitting—and to succeed. Trust is built through honesty: acknowledging what patients already know, respecting their autonomy, and providing information without judgment.
The doctor who says 'you should quit smoking, it's bad for you' is providing accurate information—and losing the patient. The doctor who says 'tell me about your smoking—what do you enjoy about it, and what concerns you?' is building trust. **Trust is the foundation of effective healthcare communication—and the standard anti-smoking script, delivered in 30 seconds at the end of a visit, builds none of it. One honest conversation, conducted with respect and without judgment, can change a smoker's relationship with healthcare—and with quitting.**
