Dr Ritu Sethi holds MBBS, MD in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Presently, she is serving as the Associate Director at Max Hospital, Gurgaon, with two decades of experience as a healthcare provider. She says that health literacy enables better understanding of your body.
When a patient explains to you about their health problems, what are the most common mistakes they make in their communication?
When patients describe their health issues, one of the most common mistakes is their inability to articulate past events or history effectively. Timeline of medical history is necessary for an appropriate treatment plan.
What does health literacy mean to you, and why is it important in patient care?
Health literacy involves being cognizant of one’s own body. That includes keeping up with the pace of recent health knowledge and related care, treatment and finally, their own role in that.
If a patient is knowledgeable about the basics of their health condition, how helpful is it for the overall treatment procedure?
It’s highly beneficial if a patient possesses a solid understanding of the basics of their health condition. This builds a two-way communication between the patient and the doctor.
How much can medical misinformation impact treatment procedures?
Very much. Medical misinformation can affect treatment procedures, as patients can refuse to comply with the right treatment. So, this kind of misinformation breeds skepticism.
What are the most common myths or misinformation you see your patients falling prey to?
One of the most prevalent misconceptions I’ve come across is the trust in ‘alternative medicine’. This can be extremely harmful with or without mentorship.
What is your most common advice to patients to stay away from health misinformation online?
I always advise them against trusting misinformation widely generated on social media and emphasize the importance of health literacy and consulting their healthcare provider instead. This way precision of their effective treatment is paramount.
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