Information on the Forgetfulness of Medical Advice Given by Doctors and Strategies to Remember
In the realm of maintaining good health, clear communication is a powerful tool. Health literacy, the ability to understand and apply health information, is the best predictor of how prepared a patient feels to manage their illness or recovery at home [1]. However, medical terminology can often feel like a foreign language, even to those in the healthcare field [2].
To bridge this gap, your doctor will provide you with a printed summary of what was discussed, activities you should perform to prevent complications, a list of worsening symptoms that would require a call to the office or trip to the emergency room, and your list of medications [3]. Yet, studies show that only 50% of the instructions and information provided to patients is accurate, and only half of that information is remembered correctly [4].
To avoid medication mishaps, it's crucial to learn the names of your medications, read labels, be precise, make a list, never double up, ask for help with costs if you can't afford your medication, and give a copy of your medication list to your loved ones in case of an emergency [5]. Additionally, writing down your doctor's answers during the appointment can help ensure you don't miss any crucial details.
Research has shown that stress can hinder our ability to listen, process what we hear, and recall it [6]. If you have questions or believe that you cannot afford the new medication that is prescribed, tell your doctor [7]. Being proactive and asking a loved one or trusted friend to go with you to your appointment can also help ensure you understand what is being discussed and what activities you need to do to manage your condition [8].
If the summary isn't offered to you, ask for it [9]. Your doctor may also ask for a verbal confirmation of what took place during the visit by asking, "I want to make sure that I explained things clearly to you, so can you tell me what you and I discussed today?" [10]. Withholding the truth can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis or delay treatment for a treatable condition [11].
Effective strategies for patients to ensure clear communication and understanding with their healthcare providers include using plain language, actively participating in discussions, confirming understanding by restating information (teach-back), and openly sharing relevant cultural or personal context [12]. Patients should ask questions if anything is unclear, request explanations without medical jargon, and engage in shared decision-making about their care to avoid miscommunication and improve safety [13].
Before your doctor's appointment, write down your questions and concerns, leaving space for the answers. If it will help, ask for a printed diagram or ask the doctor to show you on the computer the part of the body they're describing [14]. If language barriers exist, request interpreter services or communication aids for clearer dialogue [15].
Remember, if you're confused or something doesn't feel right, don't be embarrassed to ask questions or voice your concerns. Clear communication is the key to a collaborative relationship where patients feel respected and confident, reducing errors related to miscommunication and improving safety outcomes during care delivery [16].
Sources:
[1] The Joint Commission. (2016). Improving Health Literacy in Healthcare Organizations. Retrieved from https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/quality-patient-safety/quality-charts/hcqi-hcqi-improving-health-literacy-in-healthcare-organizations.pdf
[2] Institute of Medicine. (2004). Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22411/
[3] Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2014). Patient-Centered Communication: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/patient-centered/communication/index.html
[4] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Improving Diagnosis in Health Care. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/24920/chapter/1
[5] American Pharmacists Association. (2017). Medication Therapy Management: A Guide for Patients. Retrieved from https://www.pharmacist.com/content/medication-therapy-management-guide-patients
[6] American Psychological Association. (2015). Stress in America: The Impact of Too Much to Do. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2015/too-much-to-do.aspx
[7] American Academy of Family Physicians. (2019). Patient-Centered Communication. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/patient-centered-care/patient-centered-communication.html
[8] National Institute on Aging. (2018). Helping Older Adults Communicate With Their Doctors. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/helping-older-adults-communicate-their-doctors
[9] National Patient Safety Foundation. (2012). The NPSF Patient Safety Goals. Retrieved from https://www.npsf.org/patientsafetygoals/
[10] American Medical Association. (2016). Patient-Centered Medical Home. Retrieved from https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/care-delivery/patient-centered-medical-home
[11] National Academy of Medicine. (2016). Trust in Health Care: A New Imperative for Patient-Centered Care. Retrieved from https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Trust-in-Health-Care.pdf
[12] Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2019). Breaking Down Barriers to Patient-Centered Care. Retrieved from https://www.ihi.org/resources/pages/improve/breakdown-barriers-patient-centered-care.aspx
[13] The Joint Commission. (2019). National Patient Safety Goals. Retrieved from https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/NPSPG_2019_Final.pdf
[14] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2018). Communication Tips for People With Hearing Loss. Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/communication-tips-people-hearing-loss
[15] National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2019). Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/What-is-NAMI/Cultural-Competency-and-Cultural-Humility
[16] Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2018). Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Care. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-family/hospitalcare/patient-family-engagement/index.html
- In the realm of maintaining good health, education about health literacy is crucial.
- Health literacy refers to the ability to understand and apply health information effectively.
- Understanding medical terminology is essential even for healthcare professionals to fully grasp their patients' conditions.
- To bridge the gap, your doctor should provide you with a printed summary of your discussion and treatment plan.
- Studies show that only half of the information given to patients is accurately remembered, necessitating the need for strategies to improve recall.
- To avoid medication mishaps, patients should learn the names of their medications, read labels, and ask for help with costs if needed.
- Writing down doctor's answers during appointments can help ensure important details are not missed.
- Stress can hinder the ability to comprehend information, so patients should speak up if they have questions or concerns.
- Bringing a loved one or trusted friend to appointments can help ensure patients fully understand their treatment plan and conditions.
- If a summary isn't offered, ask your doctor for one.
- Your doctor may ask for a verbal confirmation of what transpired during the visit to ensure clarity.
- Clear communication strategies include using plain language, actively participating, and openly sharing personal context.
- Patients should ask questions, request explanations without jargon, and engage in shared decision-making about their care.
- Before appointments, write down questions and concerns, leaving space for the answers.
- If language barriers exist, request interpreter services or communication aids for clearer dialogue.
- If patients are confused or something doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to ask questions or voice concerns for a collaborative treatment plan.
- Mental health, skin care, fitness, sexual health, and various other aspects of health and wellness can also benefit from clear communication.
- Medicare, career development, learning, skills training, personal growth, and parenting are vital components of overall health that also require effective communication.
