Shruti K Bharadwaj holds a BSc and a MSc in Foods and Nutrition from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and is a registered dietician who completed her internship at AIIMS, New Delhi. She has worked as a Diabetic Educator at Pfizer and with the Abbott Nutrition Institute. Currently, she is the Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Zydus Hospitals, Ahmedabad. With 15 years of experience, all her dedication is for clinical nutrition. She says, having health literacy can make a difference in treatment.
When a patient explains to you about their health problems, what are the most common mistakes they make in their communication?
A frequent mistake people make when communicating with their doctor is failing to provide complete information, including details about their medical history and eating habits.
What does health literacy mean to you, and why is it important in patient care?
Health literacy is essential because the causes of a disease can vary for each individual, and understanding these nuances depends on having a good level of health literacy.
If a patient is knowledgeable about the basics of their health condition, how helpful is it for the overall treatment procedure?
A patient’s knowledge plays a significant role in their treatment process by cutting time, resources and even unnecessary information. However, such knowledge shouldn’t hamper what is the necessity of the moment.
How much can medical misinformation impact treatment procedures?
Misinformation from unqualified professionals can be more on the side of danger, as it may lead to incorrect diagnoses, inappropriate treatments, and harmful health outcomes. It’s essential to rely on credible sources and qualified professionals for accurate information.
What are the most common myths or misinformation you see your patients falling prey to?
There are several common myths and misconceptions about health, including the belief that eating rice causes diabetes. Similarly, that vitamin B12 deficiency is more prevalent among vegetarians, and having an early dinner automatically leads to weight loss. These ideas are widespread but often lack scientific backing.
What is your most common advice to patients to stay away from health misinformation online?
I frequently advise my patients is to always verify the credentials of the person providing health information. Just the very attempt of verifying an influencer will give enough insight on who these people or platforms are.
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