Nurse Practitioner Schools

4 Things Doctors Wish their Patients are Honest About

When it comes to the interaction and relationship between doctors and patients, we often hear about the patients’ view – it does not matter if they are showering the medicos with bouquets or hitting out at them with brickbats, it’s mostly the patients who air their views in public. The doctors, either because of professional ethics or because they are too busy, are silent more often than not. But, in spite of their reticence to talk about their patients, there are a few things they wish they could tell them. I have a few close friends and relatives who are doctors, and the common things they wanted their patients to be open about are:

• The medication they already take: Most patients are reluctant to come clean about the various medications they take, especially if they’re of the alternative kind or if they haven’t been prescribed. They know that their doctors are not going to be too happy with this information, which is why they withhold it. Even so, it is better to be open about medication because you don’t want side effects from the combination of the drugs you’re taking and the ones your doctor is going to prescribe.
• Their complete medical history: Doctors prefer their patients to bring files of their medical histories or at least be able to tell them about it. Patients are vague at best and reticent at worst, and this makes further investigation and treatment difficult. It also complicates some medical procedures if your doctor is completely unaware of your previous history.
• Their preference for a particular course of treatment: Patients must know what they want for themselves without being influenced by relatives and loved ones. In elective treatments like those concerning fertility, weight reduction and similar others, the patient should be the one to decide what is best for their lifestyle and circumstances.
• Their lifestyle: Patients are very experienced when it comes to lying about their food habits and how active a life they lead. They usually gloss over their excesses like cigarettes and alcohol and fatty and unhealthy food. They prefer to use white lies to cover the fact that they’re not exercising regularly like they’re supposed to. This makes it hard for doctors to provide them with the right kind of treatment and medication.

They say there are two people you should never lie to – your doctor and your lawyer. If you’re serious about your health, it’s time to start spilling your guts.