Patients and Trust: The Impact of Advocacy to Advance Patient-Centered Care

Patient trust is one of the most critical yet complex factors that influence the quality of health care. Trust is integral, yet often missing, from health care systems and interactions. As a result of historically paternalistic health and oncology care systems that may not understand and advance patient values, needs, and preferences, patient advocates and organizations have emerged as a key ingredient of patient-centered health care. Created to help patients access, navigate, and afford care, advocacy is one critical component that can help contribute to and maintain trust between patients, survivors, and caregivers, and their health care team as well as stakeholders across the health care ecosystem.