 |
Greetings, Southwest Georgia Health District!
In today’s “Information Society” people have more knowledge at their fingertips than ever before. Being well informed empowers us to make better decisions. In terms of healthcare, access to information enables patients to take more control over their lives. Yet too few patients take advantage of the wealth of information available.
It may be a case of information overload. While medical material is popular content for television talk shows, national magazines, newspapers and Web sites, patients may be baffled by terminology, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information or too intimidated, embarrassed or uneasy to question their doctors directly.
There are other hindrances as well. Doctors and patients may have differing notions behind the reason for a doctor visit. More patients who are not proficient in English are entering our healthcare system and trained interpreters are in short supply.
Physicians may be unfamiliar with customs or beliefs that affect the ability of some patients to follow medical directions or treatment plans. Also, doctors face growing constraints on the amount of time they have to spend with patients. As a result, patients’ visits may come to an end before their questions are asked, much less answered.
To combat miscommunication, physicians are being taught “health literacy” techniques, such as speaking more slowly, avoiding medical jargon and using models or drawings, to help improve doctor-patient communication.
However, patients can also help bridge the communication gap. Something as simple as writing down a list of questions before a doctor’s visit and taking time to go through them when you see your doctor can make a significant difference in your outcome and quality of life.
There are tools available to help patients become more informed and better prepared for doctor visits. Known as decision aids, they contain background information on conditions, treatment options, survival rates and more to help patients weigh pros and cons and consider how their lifestyles or personal preferences could be affected by their healthcare choices.
A decision aid by Dr. Marisa Weiss, a radiation oncologist recently featured in The Wall Street Journal, is available from her nonprofit Web site, www.breastcancer.org. The tool, a book entitled “Seven Minutes: How to Get the Most from Your Doctor’s Visit,” offers a number of useful tips. Another good decision aid is “Be Prepared for Medical Appointments” from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, available for download at www.ahrq.gov.
Here on our Web site, we have posted an aid for those who may be facing non-emergency surgery. It is titled “Having Surgery?” and offers a checklist of questions to ask surgeons. I encourage you to download this free aid and use it if you or someone close to you is considering elective surgery.
Since patients may have difficulty comprehending what their physicians are telling them, Weiss suggests taking notes or bringing a trusted friend or relative to help sift through unfamiliar terms and frame questions. She also recommends following up with your doctor’s staff about your lab results prior to your visit to ensure the results have arrived and been reviewed.
It is also important for patients to be clear about the nature of their doctor visit. Let the doctor’s staff know up-front whether your appointment is a routine check-up, whether you are experiencing a flare-up of a chronic condition or whether you have an urgent complaint. Doctors schedule their time differently to accommodate different situations.
Further, once patients are face-to-face with their physician, they should start off by expressing their No. 1 concern. Studies have found that patients tend to hold their most important question for last. Yet the average doctor visit is only around 11 minutes long. Address your top priority first so you don’t run out of time.
Knowledge truly is power when it comes to making informed medical decisions. Southwest Georgia District Public Health helps assure you have information you need to make good healthcare choices. Whether to prevent disease, injury or disability; promote health and wellbeing; or prepare for disasters, we are a community resource you can count on.
Jacqueline H. Grant, MD, MPH, MPA
