Dr Rahul Sharma is a Public Health Research Associate at Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, holding BDS and MPH qualifications with 8 years of experience as a General Dentist. He tells us that medical misinformation can influence people to not reach out for first aid or even compromising it.
When a patient explains to you about their health problems, what are the most common mistakes they make in their communication?
One of the most common mistakes patients make when communicating with their doctor is hiding their past medical history. However, past medical history is where the root cause of a problem may be.
What does health literacy mean to you, and why is it important in patient care?
Health literacy is crucial for patient care because the right knowledge can significantly improve health outcomes and positively impact the health sector economically, socially, and politically, especially in our nation, India.
If a patient is knowledgeable about the basics of their health condition, how helpful is it for the overall treatment procedure?
When a patient is knowledgeable about the basics of their health condition, it is beneficial because it saves time, reduces costs, and leads to better results with higher quality care.
How much can medical misinformation impact treatment procedures?
Medical misinformation impacts treatment procedures and can be dangerous from the very first step of care, even during first aid.
What are the most common myths or misinformation you see your patients falling prey to?
Most commonly, I’ve seen patients believe that praying to God heals everything while neglecting to consult doctors. This although can calm down your mind, but doesn’t solve the problem objectively.
What is your most common advice to patients to stay away from health misinformation online?
The advice I give my patients varies based on their health and the misinformation they believe. However, I always emphasise consulting a doctor over-relying on social media or any other random internet sources.
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