What do patients want?

General
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1

I’ve seen many patients come to the clinic only wanting medication instead of treatment for their issues. Even when I explain that medication won’t solve their issues, they still want a tablet. Have you had similar experiences? How did you handle them?

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2

Yes, Many patients procrastinate the real treatment. They opt for temporary relief with pain killers even after explaining them that the pain killers are just for the symptoms and won’t help to treat the root cause.
The reason behind this could be :

  1. Financial reason - cost of the treatment
  2. Fear of the dental procedures - The injection pain or previous bad experience
  3. Lack of time - RCT will take minimum 2 to 3 sittings including the crown placement
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3

i think they may be afraid of treatment or the procedure . Thinking of spending days in hospital will make more sick

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4

There is an inbuilt thought of the patient, that if they have a tablet, it is enough to get cured, but they won’t change their lifestyle choices.

5

Absolutely. In our field that is physiotherapy, we also deal with such situations. Patient came to clinic for only electrotherapy modalities and don’t want to proceed ahead with exercise programs.

To deal with such situation, I think patient education is the only key.

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6

I think as a healthcare professional it’s our duty to make them comfortable around us and aware about the treatments so that they don’t have dear for any procedures taken further and trust us.

7

They have so many things in their mind, so that they refuse to do the real treatment. It might be money, fear etc, we cannot force anyone to do anything, we can only explain everything to them.

8

One of main reason I think is the financial because patient think that they needed to be in hospital for long time and the cost of treatment they can’t afford it

9

As a common mass, many people have this mindset that once they face any issue they can go to a doctor, have a tablet and things will get fine. Life is too fast these days for everyone and everybody has routines, so they just feel that other than medication they have no time for anything. This also happens because of the lack of true health awareness.People come to doctor mostly with the mindset that the doctor will give pills, they will take it, and everything is under control. Taking steps on their own is a very difficult avenue for everyone.