General Medicine

» Anthony Lee - Do you see it as a big problem?

Even with a physician who truly cares and knows what is best for the patient, one barrier still exists: medical illiteracy. Just a lack of basic medical knowledge alone can prevent people from taking their medications as instructed or follow other advice. What do you think is behind medical illiteracy? What can we do about it?

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion How to subscribe to feeds

» Alicia Mae Prater - Do you see it as a big problem?

In response to Do you see it as a big problem? posted by anthonylee06:

I think it's always been there. Nowadays though people have the internet and can connect with others who are going through the same condition or symptoms they are. This adds both positive and negative influences I think. Positively, they're reinforced to do what the doc says or to pursue treatment. Negatively, they self-diagnose or re-diagnose without the help of a trained professional.

I think like most things it will even out. So called education campaigns are often misconstrued or misunderstood by the public or are abused as to what message they spread. There's a lot of politics there.

People have always exerted their independence in regards to taking medications or following a regimen. I don't think it's anything new. And there is so much to know about...it's almost impossible to get all the accurate information to someone in a way they'll understand until they're faced with that particular problem.

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion How to subscribe to feeds