Prescription of medication is a key part of healthcare today, and because of medical advances and increased longevity, more patients are prescribed multiple medications. Patient adherence is critical to medicine-taking, but the process of taking medicine has been studied much less than the medications.1 According to the WHO (2003) report…
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Foreign travel has become common among Indians. Documents needed for travel differ from one country to another, but these are usually well known and followed, since entry to a foreign country is virtually impossible without complying with all of the rules and regulations. People from India may visit for business…
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Every appointment is an opportunity for teaching and learning, both for the patient and the doctor. However, given today’s real-life constraints, is expecting doctors to teach patients asking for the moon? “Your first question should not be, ‘What do I want my patient to know?’ but rather, ‘What do I…
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While it’s easy to tell if a patient has jaundice, you can’t tell if a patient is health illiterate just by looking at him or her. However, recognizing and addressing health illiteracy is just as important to your patients’ well-being as making accurate clinical diagnoses. “If patients do not understand…
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Health literacy tools include: Handouts Audio-visual materials Face-to-face talks with patients Signage consisting of easily understood symbols (http://www.hablamosjuntos.org/signage/symbols/default.using_symbols.asp) Flip charts, diagrams, and wall posters (example: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/) Microsoft PowerPoint presentations Individual counseling Read on to see how different doctors use these tools. If you only treat your patients’ illnesses at your…
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I work hard at maintaining my technical skills, so I can continue to offer my patients the best care possible. Just like my patients expect me to be an expert, I expect my patients to be experts as well. In fact, I suggest that they do their homework before coming…
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Should Family Physician Visits Be Made Compulsory for Patients in India, Before They Visit a Specialist for Routine Symptoms? – Guest Blogger Dr. Pragnesh Vachharajani
In India today, there is an increasing trend of patients consulting a medical specialist instead of seeing their family physician first. This trend is especially being seen in the major cities. With about 70% outdoor patients (adults and kids) consulting specialists directly for common aliments like fever, cough, and cold…
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