To explore the effects of health literacy and physician empathy on patient compliance and the mediating role of patient trust. 720 outpatients in a large comprehensive Grade-III hospital in Anhui Province were investigated by using the modified Chinese Patient Health Literacy Scale, Diagnostic Relationship Empathy Scale, Wake Forest Physician’s Trust Scale ( WFPTS) and patient compliance Scale. Correlation analysis results showed that health literacy, physician empathy, patient trust and patient compliance were correlated (r=0.230, r=0.419, r=0.380, P < 0.01). The results of structural equation model showed that patient trust played a complete mediating role between health literacy and patient compliance. Patient trust partially mediates the relationship between physician empathy and patient compliance. It is suggested that measures should be taken to improve patients' health literacy, pay attention to the improvement of doctors' diagnosis and treatment empathy ability, promote doctor-patient communication, and enhance doctor-patient trust, so as to improve patients' compliance and maintain patients' health.