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In
the Spotlight
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| July
27, 2000 |
Taking
An Active Role In Your Health Care
By
Lee Phillips, M.D.
PersonalMd.com Medical
Advisory Board
|  Diagnosis
It may have taken you only a visit or two to your doctor to
find out what's causing your health problem or sometimes a diagnosis may not have
been made for a long time. Diagnostic difficulties coupled with the chronic nature
of a disease can present you with many challenges. But now that you have a diagnosis,
it's time to make some decisions about your treatment. For many diseases, there
is no one right treatment, instead several options exists -- each with its upsides
and downsides.
Resources
It's
easier to come to grips with the reality of a medical problem if you're well informed.
Depending on the level of your desire for more information and your ability to
understand scientific terms, you can get hold of everything from short, concise
pamphlets to scientific papers. Lately television, newspapers, magazines and the
Internet offer a vast array of health-related information. In addition, your doctor,
nurse, pharmacist, dietitian or the patient education department at your local
hospital may be able to direct you to classes, seminars and support groups.
Don't
Believe Everything You Read
When you search for medical information,
keep in mind that not all information is written by qualified medical experts.
It can be hard to judge the accuracy and credibility of medical information you
get in books, magazines, television or Internet. Even people with medical backgrounds
sometimes find this task challenging. Following are some important tips to help
you decide what information is believable and accurate:
Compare
several different resources on the same topic. Check two or three other articles
or books to see whether the information or advice is similar; Look
very carefully at information published in newspapers and magazines or reported
on television. Most reporters are journalists rather than medical experts. In
addition, newspapers and television reporters may use sensationalism to attract
more readers or viewers. Check to see whether the newspaper or magazine cites
a source for its information; Check
the author's credentials, associations and lists of other publications; Check
out your information source. Was the article published in a peer-reviewed journal?
Look for a list of editorial or review board members at the beginning of a journal.
In a peer-reviewed journal, other qualified members of the profession check for
accuracy and reliability of the articles; Ask
yourself if the information or advice "rings true." That is, is it feasible,
plausible and makes sense or is it just wishful thinking; Genuine
medical miracles are few and far between. Beware of any drugs or treatments that
make big claims. Not all information is objective and honest. Medical facts and
statistics can be misrepresented or incomplete.
Finally
Making Treatment Decisions?
Once you have found out as much
as you can about your disease; it's time to talk to your doctor. Armed with this
knowledge, you can more actively work in partnership with your doctor and explore
treatment options before making a decision. Studies have shown that people who
take an active role in developing their treatment plan have a better chance of
staying on course and feel more satisfied with their care. Health care experts
predict that the accessibility of medical information will result in health-conscious
patients who are very well informed of their own health and medical care.
Copyright
© 2000 PersonalMD.com. All rights reserved.
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