Internet Disruptions in the Doctor–Patient Relationship

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-525
Author(s):  
Ian R Freckelton
Keyword(s):  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Legal Proceedings ◽  
Injunctive Relief ◽  
Legal Duty

Abstract The ubiquitous access by patients to online information about health issues is disrupting the traditional doctor–patient relationship in fundamental ways. The knowledge imbalance has shifted and the last nails are being hammered into the coffin of medical paternalism. Ready access to Dr Google has many positive aspects but the risk of undiscerning acceptance by patients of unscientific, out-of-date or biased information for their decision-making remains. In turn this may feed into the content of the legal duty of care for doctors and contribute to a need for them to inquire sensitively into the sources of information that may be generating surprising or apparently illogical patient treatment choices. In addition, patients, those related to patients, and others have the potential to publish on the Internet incorrect and harmful information about doctors. A number of influential decisions by courts have now established the legitimacy of medical practitioners taking legal proceedings for defamation and injunctive relief to stop vituperative and vindictive online publications that are harming them personally, reputationally and commercially. Furthermore, disciplinary accountability has been imposed on doctors for intemperate, disrespectful online postings. All of these factors are contributing to a disruptive recalibration of the dynamics between doctors and their patients.

scholarly journals Is doctor-patient relationship influenced by health online information?

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 692-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Rodrigues Alves da Mota ◽  
Carolina Cavalcanti Gonçalves Ferreira ◽  
Henrique Augusto Alves da Costa Neto ◽  
Ana Rodrigues Falbo ◽  
Suélem de Barros Lorena
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Physician Patient Relationship ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES To analyse the opinions and attitudes reported by medical specialists regarding online health information and their interference in the doctor-patient relationship. Methods A cross-sectional study developed between 2016 and 2017 in Recife-Pernambuco-Brazil, which used a questionnaire in person in a population of 183 specialists from the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira. The results were analysed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Obtained approval of the Ethics Committee under the voucher number 121004/2016. Results In the opinion of 85.2% of physicians, online health information has both positive and negative impacts on the physician-patient relationship. Faced with a questioning patient who claims to have researched information on the internet, 98.9% of the physicians said they would try to explain the reasons for their diagnosis and treatment. 59% already had a patient who modified the treatment recommended after seeing health information on the Internet. 73.8% agreed that online health information has positive effects for the general public, but 89.1% feel that most patients do not know which online health information is reliable CONCLUSION The physicians surveyed view online health information in a positive way, but realize that it is necessary to be cautious as to their repercussions on the treatment of patients. There is concern about the accuracy of online health information, and it is incumbent upon the physician and health institutions to instruct patients about the sources of quality and that they are able to understand, as its known the patients have an active voice through the guarantee of the ethical principle of autonomy.

scholarly journals Comportamiento de la ciudadanía respecto a la información sobre salud: exposición, acceso y usos = The behavior of citizens regarding health information: exposure, access and uses

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Gema Revuelta
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Redes Sociales ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Social

Introducción: Los comportamientos de la ciudadanía respecto a la información de salud pueden influir en sus relaciones con otras personas y en sus propias decisiones.Objetivos: Aumentar la comprensión sobre los cambios en los comportamientos de los ciudadanos españoles respecto a la información sobre salud entre 2014 y 2018.Metodología: Se han realizado 6 grupos focales con ciudadanos (N=31) y 4 con comunicadores especializados en salud (N=23). Las transcripciones se han codificado y analizado con la ayuda del programa Atlas.ti 8.Resultados: En 2014, las redes sociales comenzaban a ocupar un papel central en el acceso a la información sobre salud, especialmente entre los más jóvenes. En 2018, en opinión de los comunicadores, aunque hay más contenidos de calidad online, las estrategias comerciales de las redes hacen que los ciudadanos estén más expuestos a fake-news (incluyendo las pseudoterapias) y a contenidos superficiales (como la imagen corporal). Los temas que interesan a la población han cambiado y también su comportamiento respecto a la información. El uso de la información online en la relación médico-paciente no parece haber variado.Conclusión: En 4 años se han producido transformaciones en la exposición y el acceso a la información de salud que pueden tener consecuencias considerables.Palabras Clave: comunicación de salud; redes sociales; relación médico-paciente; fake-news.AbstractIntroduction: The behavior of citizens regarding health information can influence their relationships with other people and their decisions.Objectives: To increase the understanding of behavioral changes of Spanish citizens regarding health information between 2014 and 2018.Methodology: Six focus groups were organized with citizens (N = 31) and four with specialized health communicators (N = 23). The transcripts have been coded and analyzed with Atlas.ti 8 software.Results: In 2014 social networks began to occupy a central role as a means of access to health information, especially among the youngest. From the opinion of communicators, in 2018 there is now more quality information online, but the commercial strategies of the social networks encourage the exposure of citizens to fake-news (including pseudo therapies) and superficial contents (i.e. body image). Citizens have changed their issues of interest and their behavior regarding health information. The use of online information within the doctor-patient relationship do not seem to have changed.Conclusion: In four years there have been changes in the exposure and access to health information that can have considerable consequences.Keywords: health communication; social networks; doctor-patient relationship; fake-news 

The internet—A useful communication tool but no replacement for the doctor-patient relationship

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A735-A735
Author(s):  
C STREETS ◽  
J PETERS ◽  
D BRUCE ◽  
P TSAI ◽  
N BALAJI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Internet ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship

Doctor-Patient Relationship: The Difficult Balance between Patient Psychology and Community Sociology

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-50
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Turabian
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Usual Model ◽  
Individual Personality ◽  
Object Of Study

Psychology and sociology share a common object of study, human behaviour, but from different perspectives. Sociologists have focused on macro variables, such as social structure, education, gender, age, race, etc., while psychology has focused on micro variables such as individual personality and behaviours, beliefs, empathy, listening, etc. Despite the importance of interpersonal relationship skills, they depend on the community or social context in which communication takes place, and by themselves may have little relevance in the consultation. The purely psychological analysis of the doctor-patient relationship often leads to an idyllic vision, with the patient-centred consultation as the greatest exponent, which rarely occurs in real life. The purely sociological or community / social analysis of the doctor-patient relationship leads to a negative view of the consultation, which is always shown as problematic. But, the psychological system in the doctor-patient relationship cannot be neglected, and its study is of importance, at least as an intermediate mechanism that is created through socio-community relations. Although the same social causes are behind the doctor-patient relationship, when acting on psychological factors in the consultation, they act as an optical prism scattering socio-community relations that affect the doctor and the patient, giving rise to a beam of different colors of doctor-patient relationship. In doctor-patient relationship there is a modality of psychotherapy, where attitudes, thoughts and behaviour of the patient, can be change, as well as it can be extended on the way of understanding and therefore changing, his social context. Because of the distance between socio-community relations and the form of doctor-patient relations is growing in complex societies, under these conditions, the sociological factor gives the important place to the psychological factor. Given these difficulties of the doctor-patient relationship one may ask how general medical practice can persist with the usual model of doctor-patient relationship. Pain and the desire to relieve them are the basic reasons for the patient and the doctor, and they do not disappear due to the contradictions of the doctor-patient relationship. In this way, the confrontation between sociological and psychological vision is replaced by an alliance of both currents, and each of them takes on meaning only in the general vision.

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF GPS' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ABOUT PERSON CENTRED CARE

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-570
Author(s):  
Radost Assenova ◽  
Levena Kireva ◽  
Gergana Foreva
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Family Doctors ◽  
Person Centered Care ◽  
Centered Care

Introduction: The European definition of WONCA of general practice introduces the determinant elements of person-centered care regarding four important, interrelated characteristics: continuity of care, patient "empowerment", patient-centred approach, and doctor-patient relationship. The application of person-centred care in general practice refers to the GP's ability to master the patient-centered approach when working with patients and their problems in the respective context; use the general practice consultation to develop an effective doctor–patient relationship, with respect to patient’s autonomy; communicate, set priorities and establish a partnership when solving health problems; provide long-lasting care tailored to the needs of the patient and coordinate overall patient care. This means that GPs are expected to develop their knowledge and skills to use this key competence. Aim: The aim of this study is to make a preliminary assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners regarding person-centered care. Material and methods: The opinion of 54 GPs was investigated through an original questionnaire, including closed questions, with more than one answer. The study involved each GP who has agreed to take part in organised training in person-centered care. The results were processed through the SPSS 17.0 version using descriptive statistics. Results: The distribution of respondents according to their sex is predominantly female - 34 (62.9%). It was found that GPs investigated by us highly appreciate the patient's ability to take responsibility, noting that it is important for them to communicate and establish a partnership with the patient - 37 (68.5%). One third of the respondents 34 (62.9%) stated the need to use the GP consultation to establish an effective doctor-patient relationship. The adoption of the patient-centered approach at work is important to 24 (44.4%) GPs. Provision of long-term care has been considered by 19 (35,2%). From the possible benefits of implementing person-centered care, GPs have indicated achieving more effective health outcomes in the first place - 46 (85.2%). Conclusion: Family doctors are aware of the elements of person-centered care, but in order to validate and fully implement this competence model, targeted GP training is required.

Telemedicine (or Teleconsultation?) Practice Guidelines of India: A Game changer or a half-hearted attempt amid COVID-19? (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatesh U ◽  
Aravind Gandhi P
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Government ◽  
First Time ◽  
Game Changer

UNSTRUCTURED Telemedicine is where health care intersects with Information Technology. In India, there has been no statutory regulations or official guidelines, specific for Telemedicine practice and allied matters, so far. For the first time, Government of India has released Telemedicine Practice Guidelines for Registered Medical Practitioners on March 25, 2020, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Through this paper, we would like to initiate the discussion on the features of the guidelines, limitations, and its significance in times of COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines are with a restricted scope for providing medical consultation to patients, excluding other aspects of Telemedicine such as research and evaluation, and the continuing education of health-care workers. The guidelines have elaborated on the eligibility for practicing Telemedicine in India, the modes and types of Teleconsultation, delved into doctor-patient relationship, consent, & management protocols, touched upon the data security & privacy aspects of the Teleconsultation. After releasing the guidelines, Telescreening of public for COVID-19 symptoms is being advocated by the Government of India. COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC) has been initiated, which connects the doctors across the India to AIIMS in real-time for accessing expert guidance on treatment of the COVID-19 patients.

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