By Dr. T.V. Rao
Today the world is guided by Information and communication technology and healthcare is no exception. Health communication and health information technology (IT) are becoming central to health care, public health, and the way our society views health.
These processes make up the context and the ways professionals and the public search for, understand, and use health information, significantly impacting their health decisions and actions. In the past our patients were at the receiving end when a doctor’s decision making is final. With the growing competitive talents and skills in the profession rising, unethical practices and conflicts of interests is on rise. Dissemination of information to the patients is making them kings to make their own choice to accept or reject the treatments offered to them.
Today patients are enthusiastic to know about their health status. Today, Internet made everyone to know about the facts and also confused when the information is not authentic. It only means that we are moving into era where we are dealing with many half knowledge people. Particularly in developing nations, many patients want definite diagnosis and wish to know what are the consequences as medical issues are now open to patient as well as treating physicians.
It only means that the doctors would bring in effective use of communication and technology. The health care and public health professionals can bring about an age of patient and public-centered health information and services. The increase in online health information and services challenges users with limited literacy skills or limited experience using the Internet. The current problem with worldwide web remain with major misinformation creating distrust between the physician and patients.
In India, we have dedicated sites to guide the patients and the patients however search the information many times from untrustworthy web portals as major manipulation for commercialization and misinform the patients. Nowadays healthcare applications are a useful resource to guide patients regarding their health concerns by helping them connect with the doctors, fix appointments. An all new innovation in this area is the ability of a patient to ask questions online and get answers from a pool of doctors.
Now patients and family caregivers can be on the same page with their doctor. The patient and doctor relation are changing faster as we cannot hide the facts on survival disability and death.
Allowing opportunity for discussion may be as important for patients as giving and receiving information, understand the problem and treatment options available, and which are appropriate to the patient’s circumstances, personality, expectations, fears, beliefs, values and cultural background. Doctors should give advice.
There should be no coercion, and the patient is free to accept or reject the advice. Patients should be encouraged to make their own decisions. Patients should be frank and honest in giving information about their health, and doctors should encourage them to be so. However in emergencies, when immediate intervention is necessary to preserve life or prevent serious harm, it may not be possible to provide information.
(Dr. Rao is Professor of Microbiology, Travancore Medical College, Kollam)
