What Role Does Effective Doctor-Patient Communication Play In Increasing Health Literacy?

The technological advances of our time have managed to bring seemingly every modern commodity directly to our doorsteps. They have also enabled every living person with internet access to share their own thoughts and opinions concerning everyday subjects — regardless of their profession or level of education. 

To find what you’ve been looking for, however, you’ll have to wade through a sea of different opinions, making it easy to fall victim to dangerous misinformation. The internet is simultaneously a bastion of knowledge and a trap that poses serious challenges in the fight against the ever-growing problem of rumors, misleading data, and pseudoscience. 

So, what can patients do to make sure that they’re on the right track?

Since doctors usually have a hectic schedule, spending more time with a patient may seem difficult and even impossible. However, a doctor’s job shouldn’t be, and isn’t, limited to just diagnosing and treating diseases. 

Being a doctor carries a responsibility far beyond that, meaning the care is focused on a patient as a whole, not just their ailments. Given that health issues are often pretty complex, doctors mustn’t expect that patients can always fully grasp what it’s all about, and therefore should take steps to familiarize the patient with the situation at hand.

This usually proves to be a challenge, because there are still doctors out there who (ironically) aren’t so good when talking to people, whether we talk about over- or underestimating the knowledge and intellectual capabilities of their patients, or simply “gaslighting” them into oblivion, by minimizing their symptoms, blaming it on mental illnesses, assuming the diagnosis based on stereotyping, or simply refusing to discuss any further issues with them.

We must agree that a patient’s health is too important to be left in the hands of a random internet persona, and therefore, medical professionals have a duty to educate patients as much as they can about their disease, but at the same time, find a common ground, making the process simple, yet effective.

Doctors shouldn’t doubt their patients unless they have a concrete reason to. If they were feeling well, they probably didn’t want to visit the hospital in the first place. The only thing they want is a fair treatment. If the patient puts their trust in the health system, the least that system can do is to try to return that trust. 

The thing is, doctors often forget that they are not talking to their colleagues, but to a patient who is confused and scared, and therefore unable to process huge amounts of important data thrown at them about their own health, especially if they don’t understand what they’re being told.

On the other hand, patients are encouraged to ask questions. A lot. This is crucial for good communication with the hospital staff. As a patient, don’t be scared to ask once more if the instructions given are not clear or you’re not sure what’s going on with your health. Inquire about tests you’re about to have, how you can prepare for them, or what any results actually mean for your quality of life.

Similarly, if you don’t understand some of the words or phrases used, be sure to let your doctor know, because if you just nod your head, they will automatically presume that you are familiar with what you’re being told. Try to be proactive, because after all, your health is on the line.

In what ways can doctors broaden patients’ knowledge?

There are many methods to help patients understand their problem, since every patient is different. Some of them need to be told twice, while others might need a picture or a chart, but the key is to find a way to fully inform them about their health and the steps they need to take to safeguard it. This should be done in layman terms, allowing the patient to ask questions if everything is clearly understood.

The possibilities are endless. 

Doctors can send their patients emails with reputable YouTube videos, or print out brochures after every visit. The idea is that medical staff, as professionals, show their patients valid information, while also telling them more about their condition. 

When it comes to online searches, doctors should encourage patients to search for websites written by experts, but also formulated so that anyone can read them and draw unbiased conclusions. Of course, the best option which comes to mind is to recommend a medical journal, but these can be so complex that they not only won’t answer their questions, but potentially scare them, since some of these can be unfathomable even for a doctor with a different specialty, let alone someone who tries to read it for the first time. Bottom line, by motivating the patient to learn by asking more about their problem, you both educate them, while simultaneously building trust.

Finally, it’s time for medical professionals to take a more active role in educating their patients, while also inspiring them to care enough to inquire more about both their own ailments, as well as about prevention, via the principles of a healthy lifestyle.

The idea is that the doctor creates a connection of some sort with their patients, thereby treating the patient as a whole, not just their diseases. This is a continuous process, with a goal to point the patient in the right direction, alleviate their anxieties, and educate them enough for them to assert critical thinking when caring for themselves.

Moreover, these methods are beneficial when it comes to patient compliance, because the more the patient understands his or her condition, it is more likely that they will adhere to their treatment, as well as increase their personal responsibility when it comes to health. Additionally, these patients are more likely to be satisfied with their treatment, and continue to care about their overall health, while also avoiding potential complications related to their cause.