The medical sector tends to be quite difficult to navigate for most people. The medical jargon and the overwhelming clutter of information about illnesses, symptoms, and treatments can intimidate and confuse even the bravest individual. As studies show, poor health literacy tends to diverge into poor communication and worse healthcare outcomes.
But that’s not the only problem. Paradoxically, one of today’s problems rests at the opposite end of the spectrum: the notion of self-education. As Norman Cousins explains in his book, Anatomy of an Illness: “Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.” Many people self-educate themselves on the internet and come with strong opinions regarding their health, treatment plan, medication, and the medical sphere as a whole.
In this context, the doctor-patient relationship is immediately soured, given that the patients often view themselves as competitors to the medical professionals. Such a situation is in even more dire need of balancing.
One way to do that is via medical education and patient-oriented care and communication. This increases the patient’s trust in medical authorities and complements their knowledge regarding the medical sphere.
How to Implement the Concept of Transformative Education
The concept of transformative education addresses the notion of health literacy. This refers to the ability to understand and use information and services pertaining to the healthcare sector. The goal is to increase the patient’s health literacy, which can be achieved via methods such as:
Clear verbal interactions – Physicians need to avoid convoluted medical jargon whenever possible to simply the language. Deliver the instructions and ask the patient to repeat them back to gauge their level of understanding.
Clear written communication – A simple and clear written language is necessary to help patients understand the instructions more easily.
A supportive and conducive environment – Not all patients can write or read. It’s important to create a supportive environment that encourages inquiries and learning and offers explanations and answers. And it’s important for those interactions to take place in a supportive, judgement-free environment.
Utilize available resources – Ask the patient about their family or friends who can accompany them during counseling sessions and appointments. This allows for better exchange of ideas and makes sure that the instructions are clear and the patient will uphold them after leaving.
While these suggestions are aimed at polishing the doctors’ professional approach, their personal one also requires adjusting. The doctor-patient relationship needs to evolve into a partnership, and this can be achieved by:
Asking questions – These are meant to gauge the patient’s understanding of their own condition and assess their overall experience. This can lead to improved treatment and a stronger doctor-patient relationship.
Encouraging questions – Asking for the patient’s input can help them open up and feel more comfortable in the doctor’s company.
Motivational interviewing – Motivational interviewing seeks to gauge the patient’s willingness to change and embrace new behaviors. It also prepares them for the next stage of readiness so that they can adopt a healthier behavior and mindset moving forward.
Primary Medical Care Center believes that transformative education is an essential tool for improving the doctor-patient relationship. This allows physicians to build trust and helps patients become more comfortable and knowledgeable about their situation.
With offices in Miami, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and West Palm Beach, Primary Medical Care Center is a leader in full-risk primary care, distinguished by its innovative philosophy and unique physician-led culture that delivers coordinated, world-class primary care to the most vulnerable populations, particularly moderate- to low-income seniors with complicated chronic diseases.