Discipline

Health and Science

Abstract

The proliferation of digital health information in the Philippines has transformed patient decision-making, yet the coexistence of credible sources and widespread misinformation presents a critical challenge to healthcare delivery and outcomes. While global discourse highlights the risks of misinformation, there remains limited empirical understanding of how trust in digital platforms versus healthcare professionals shapes patient behavior in resource-variable settings. This study aimed to develop and empirically ground a Digital Health Trust Framework explaining how trust influences patient decision-making. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed, combining a cross-sectional survey of 400 adult patients from urban and semi-urban communities with in-depth interviews of 25 participants. The survey measured trust in information sources, exposure to digital health content, and health behaviors. Quantitative data were analyzed using multiple regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings were integrated through triangulation. Higher trust in algorithm-driven platforms significantly predicted self-medication (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) and delayed consultation (β = 0.28, p < 0.01). In contrast, trust in healthcare providers was strongly associated with treatment adherence (β = 0.47, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings showed that accessibility, relatability, social validation, and prior healthcare experiences shaped trust, often outweighing considerations of accuracy. Findings position trust as the central mechanism linking information exposure to health behavior. The proposed Digital Health Trust Framework conceptualizes decision-making as a dynamic interaction among information exposure, trust formation, and socio-contextual factors. The study highlights the need for trust-centered communication strategies and digital health literacy interventions to mitigate misinformation and improve outcomes. Insights are transferable to similar health systems.

Keywords

Philippines, trust, misinformation, digital health, patient decision-making, health behavior, framework