How health beliefs may impact care
Physicians may judge patients more negatively when they share incorrect health beliefs, particularly when their beliefs were central to the management of the patient’s disease.
In a study published in Medical Decision Making, investigators asked 185 participants aged 18 to 64 years, 311 patients with and without Type 2 diabetes and 207 primary care physicians to complete a survey to rate hypothetical patient vignettes sharing health beliefs central to peripheral to the management of diabetes on a scale of zero to 100. The participants and physicians assessed how a physician might perceive the patient, the patient’s ability to manage their disease and the patient’s trust in physicians.
The investigators found that the patients who shared unreasonable beliefs were rated more negatively — especially those whose statements were central to diabetes management. They indicated that patients may avoid disclosing health beliefs to physicians because they may fear negative judgment, which could contribute to barriers in the shared decision-making process.
The investigators emphasized that implementing training for physicians regarding common health misconceptions could help inform them on providing a space in which patients feel comfortable to share their beliefs as well as improving care.
Read more: Medical Decision Making
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