Only 40% of Americans Have Strong Confidence in Hospitals and Clinics While 52% Trust Science a Lot

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That split raises a practical question for patients: Why trust the science but not the places that deliver it? Wellcome found that trust in science is closely tied to confidence in a nation’s health care system, so the gap could affect whether people seek care, follow treatment advice or return for follow-up visits.

The survey, part of the Gallup World Poll, reached more than 140,000 adults in 140 countries through in-person, phone and online interviews conducted in 2025. Wellcome, a British research foundation, published the results as the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026. Earlier editions surveyed people in 2018 and 2020.

On several measures, Americans look more pro-science than their peers. About 45% of Americans say they would get a vaccine recommended by a nurse or doctor right away, compared with 28% in Germany. The share of Americans who say science benefits most people in their society rose from 48% in 2018 to 57% in 2025, even as the global figure fell from 42% to 37%.

The national averages hide sharp divides. STAT found a 24-point gap between religious and nonreligious Americans on whether science benefits most people, compared with an average of about 5 points in other high-income countries. The urban-rural gap was 19 points in the U.S., versus about 3 points elsewhere. Just 47% of Americans without four-year degrees said science benefits most people, compared with 71% of college graduates.

Part of the polarization may reflect how Americans answer surveys. Matthew Motta, a public opinion researcher at Boston University School of Public Health, told STAT that Americans tend to be “more extreme responders to public opinion surveys.”

The Wellcome data do not explain why confidence in hospitals is low. A separate national study offers clues. Research published in JAMA Network Open in 2024 found that the share of U.S. adults with a lot of trust in physicians and hospitals fell from 71.5% in April 2020 to 40.1% in January 2024, CIDRAP reported. The study surveyed more than 443,000 adults.

When people with low trust explained their views, many said doctors and hospitals seemed driven by money rather than patient health, according to a summary in The Nation’s Health. Others described poor care or discrimination and bias. Lead author Dr. Roy Perlis also pointed to everyday frustrations, such as long waits to see a doctor, in an interview with HealthLeaders.

Perlis said “restoring trust will require that we consider those different reasons, rather than adopting a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

The two surveys asked different questions and used different methods, so their figures should not be compared directly. Both point toward a system that many patients see as costly, rushed, or unfair. Lower trust was also linked to lower rates of COVID-19 and flu vaccination in the JAMA study, which suggests confidence in the system is tied to real health decisions.

Access shapes how people judge the system. STAT noted that a city resident with cancer who can reach a top university medical center sees the benefits of science more directly than a rural patient who must travel far for basic hospital care. Wellcome’s first global survey, conducted in 2018, found that people with the lowest household incomes had less confidence in hospitals and health systems around the world.

“People are feeling left behind; they are not understanding how this benefits me,” Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, told STAT.

Experts STAT interviewed also said political rhetoric has deepened divisions over science. Yotam Ophir of the University at Buffalo traced the partisan split to the Tea Party movement of the 2010s. Mark Henderson of Wellcome urged scientists to “meet people where they are” and to approach people with respect rather than expecting automatic trust.

Low confidence does not have to mean avoiding care. Patients who feel uneasy can ask for cost estimates before a procedure, request an itemized bill afterward, and ask whether a lower-cost option exists. A second opinion is reasonable for major diagnoses or surgery. Many hospitals have patient advocates or patient relations offices that handle complaints about treatment or communication.

People who believe they faced discrimination can report it to the facility and to federal civil rights authorities. Bringing a written list of questions, or a family member, to appointments can also help patients feel heard.

Distrust should never delay emergency care. Chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, or sudden confusion need immediate attention through 911 or the nearest emergency department.

The survey measures confidence, not hospital quality, and a single survey answer does not capture every patient’s experience. Wellcome’s full report and country data dashboards are now public.

What did the Wellcome survey find about U.S. hospitals? Only 40% of Americans reported a lot of confidence in hospitals and health clinics, the same as in Portugal and Uruguay, according to STAT’s analysis of Wellcome Global Monitor data.

Do Americans trust science? More than people in most countries. About 52% of Americans report a lot of trust in science, compared with 26% worldwide.

Why do some patients distrust hospitals? In a separate U.S. study, people with low trust often said doctors and hospitals seemed motivated by money. Others cited poor care, discrimination, and long waits.

Who reports the least confidence? In the U.S., gaps are widest by religion, education, and urban versus rural residence. Globally, lower-income households report less confidence in health systems.

Does low trust affect health? A 2024 JAMA Network Open study linked lower trust in physicians and hospitals to lower rates of COVID-19 and flu vaccination.

What can patients do if they distrust their care? Ask about costs up front, seek second opinions for major decisions, bring questions to visits, and use patient advocates. Never delay emergency care.