Toronto, Sep 4 - Well-educated heart patients tend to have less faith in their cardiologists, says a Canadian study.

The study by York University here shows that patients who reported greater trust in their cardiologist tended to be less educated, with higher blood pressure, and also perceived greater control over their heart condition.

The study is sync with other studies that show well-educated patients also show less trust in their family doctor, a university statement said Thursday.

The study 'Degree and correlates of patient trust in their cardiologist' involved more than 1,000 heart patients.

'The relationship between hypertension and greater trust suggests that such perceptions may not be based on doctor competence,'' researcher Sheena Kayaniyil was quoted as saying.

'In addition, patients of higher socio-economic status generally have greater access to care and more opportunity to select their doctor, yet we did not see higher levels of trust in those patients,'' Kayaniyil said.

Senior study author Grace said: 'It is surprising that women are as trusting of their cardiologists as men.