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Do Doctors Like Informed Patients Like Us Better?
So the folks on this forum are more educated and informed than most. My question is whether that's a good thing from the doctor's perspective: on the one hand, we are more of a pain in the neck in having our own ideas about treatment; on the other hand, we participate in our own treatment so if something goes wrong, we're less likely to feel blindsided and want to sue. What do you all think?
Views: 143
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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This is a good discussion, Mike.......thanks!
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Permalink Reply by CaptSleep73! on
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great post richard. I also believe that it depends on how the information is communicated. Know one likes a know it all or someone that presents the information in an agressive manner. Just as we need our physicians to give us a feeling of confidence and competency they may need the same.
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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I personally think it's great that patients take some responsibility for their own health. Who knows more about what is going on with your body than you, right? And since it is your problem, it is important that you learn all you can about it and your treatment options. At the same time, I think that patients need to remain open-minded to what their physicians have to offer. Your doctor may have experience with a particular issue that you no nothing about. And I believe that their experience is worth a lot.
This is all of course if you have a doctor who is knowledgeable and cares about his/her patients. A lot of physicians don't know a lot about the treatment of sleep apnea. They know how it is treated but are not experienced with the problems associated with treatment. And, many of them don't have any experience with CPAP vs. APAP vs. Bilevel. We had one patient who was set at 15cm on straight CPAP--the ordering physician just went along with the sleep study recommendation. He could not use it and was very "hostile" about re-starting it. Our physician looked at his study, dropped him to 8cm and then did a data card read out. He is actually enjoying treatment now and doing just fine on 8cm.
Then there are those physicians who don't care and/or are not interested in learning anything about treatment. In that case, you probably know more than they do. And, I'm sure that there are physicians who feel threatened by a patient "telling" them anything about their condition. It is best for a patient to stay as informed as possible and look for a physician who respects their willingness to take responsibility for their treatment.
Here is a link to another medical professional's perspective on this issue that might help y'all understand where we are coming from as medical professionals (at least the medical professionals who care): http://ow.ly/16nQsq.
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Kay Goodwin on
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I agree with Melinda. What she says makes a lot of sense. Thanks Melinda for your advice. I will check out the link you requested. There is a lot of people on this web site who has given a lot of good information that has helped me. I hope it helps everyone as well. Thanks to you as well Mike and all of you guys.
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I just found out my link doesn't take you to the right page. Here is another try: http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/zz_4/archive/2010/01/12/rls-a....
Sorry about that!
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Melinda, can you give a more specific URL? The link you gave us is pretty generic and there's lots of choices w/o any being clear as to which one you were directing us to.
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I actually added a different link. Here it is again: http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/zz_4/archive/2010/01/12/rls-a.... Sorry about that!
Judy said:Melinda, can you give a more specific URL? The link you gave us is pretty generic and there's lots of choices w/o any being clear as to which one you were directing us to.
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Thanks, Melinda.
You know, Mike, the only time I've put my foot down w/my sleep doctor was insisting that he script a specific brand and model xPAP for me - which fully fit the usual generic script he wrote AND 3 months after first starting CPAP therapy pushing him for a 2 week loaner APAP since two pressure changes after my in-lab titration weren't cutting the mustard. Oooops. One other time, at the very start of my therapy, I INSISTED that I would ONLY ACCEPT a fully data capable CPAP.
I have naively gone on hoping against hope to find a sleep doctor who actually will discuss my sleep study results, my titration results, my xPAP trending data and one who is even really interested in my answers when he asks how I'm doing and is interested enough in helping me to actually put forth some effort to find the answers we need.
I haven't found that rare individual yet.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon Osmond on
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For my own benefit and to help my doctor I keep a computer record of my medication which I change after the doctor has said to. I print this list when I visit my doctor.
But I also keep a daily record of things like sleep time, a record of the symptoms of Sjrogrens syndrome, blood pressure and the daily pollution level. I do not print this out. Thus I have a better understanding of my own health. If something changes then I exactly when it does.
If I have questions to put to the doctor I type and print them and give them to the doctor.
I also make a record of the doctor's recommendations. This is to be sure I am following his instructions.
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Permalink Reply by Mack D Jones, MD, SAAN on
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Back in the old days when I was in practice, I welcomed questions from patients. The more informed, the better. I enjoyed teaching and felt it was an important part of the job.
Today with Internet access, support groups and websites like sleepguide.com, it is easier for patients to learn about their medical condition. It's also easier to get unreliable information, so maintaining a certain amount of skepticism and sticking to trusted sources is a no brainer.
An educated patient will be more compliant and a compliant patient will have a better outcome.
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My doctor and I discuss my condition, and options of treatment and treatment changes. It helps him to inform him of many facts about my situation that only I would know. He is very open and receptive to my suggestions, and if I come up with something that is not feasible, he explains why it shouldn't be implemented. I always have a productive visit, and know that we are both on the same page when I leave his office.
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There was a study published a few years ago - sorry I cannot remember the source - about biases found in physicians (MDs). The study identified two main biases: 1. Well groomed, well dressed patients with good grammar had appointments that lasted several minutes longer than average; 2. When MDs communicate via mail and copy the patient on the letter, the patient receives better care. In my practice as a respiratory therapist that specializes in treating PAP patients, I always send a well-written, concise letter regarding the patient's progress, concerns, problems, etc to the ordering doc (usually a sleep doc) and copy it to the PCP AND to the patient! What I find interesting is that many of my patients get a followup call from their PCP AND the sleep doc!
There is a new "branch" of medicine on the horizon called "Participatory Medicine" and all I can say is "it's about time!" Participatory Medicine is based on a collaborative relationship between the patient and ALL of the involved health care professionals, and it places more emphasis on patient responsibility - to research, ask questions, assume responsibility for health care and wellness choices, and assist in the coordination of their own care ("Dr. X, have you heard from Dr. Z yet? You haven't? Oh, well, I will call Dr. Z and be sure that he sends you my . . .whatever."). One idea evolving from this is less practice of "defensive medicine," e.g. why do an X-ray AND a CT scan (with and without contrast) AND an MRI when the X-ray alone is sufficient? Participatory medicine will ultimately lessen frivolous lawsuits and result in healthier people.
I have digressed a bit from the original question. . .I would have to say, in my experience, that I like informed patients (I'm not a doctor, but have played one on stage!), but not "know it all" patients who are obviously misinformed. Attitude counts. On the other hand, I have had MDs ask me where I obtained my medical degree - when I was NOT misinformed. Again, attitude counts. Respecting knowledge, opinion, skill, and the inherent wisdom of the body is an attitude that all healthcare professionals and patients would do well to adopt.
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