When it comes to self-care, a disconnect\nbetween physicians and patients has gone viral \u2013 or bacterial, if you prefer. The\nstory has a fabulous start but a muddy ending that deserves everyone\u2019s\nattention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s the scoop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If only we could end the story here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it turns out that 75\npercent of patients say they haven\u2019t discussed self-care with their\nphysician\nwithin the last two years. One significant reason for this time warp is that a\nwhopping 46 percent of docs don\u2019t think patients are interested in discussing self-care.\nInteresting \u2013 because the majority of patients (72 percent) say they are<\/em> interested in discussing self-care\nwith their healthcare provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These stats, and many more, come\nfrom a new survey, released in July 2019 and conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf\nof Samueli Integrative Health Programs.(1) <\/sup>The survey involved more\nthan 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and more than 300 family medicine and\ninternal medicine physicians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe reason we chose to look specifically at\nself-care is because we know that 80 percent of what causes chronic disease\nlies outside the realm of most medical treatment,\u201d explains Wayne Jonas, MD,\nExecutive Director of Samueli Integrative Health Programs, practicing family\nphysician, and Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University and The Uniformed\nServices University of the Health Sciences. \u201cEncouraging patients to incorporate self-care\npractices into their daily lives is not only important for their health, it\u2019s a\ncritical component in reducing our country\u2019s chronic disease burden. In order\nto truly make a difference in the health of our patients, the future of primary\ncare \u2013 indeed all healthcare \u2013 must address the patient as a whole person and\ntake an integrative health approach to guide and support healthy behaviors\noutside the clinic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is Self-Care?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With everyone applauding the\nbenefits of self-care yet far too few discussing the topic, Dr. Jonas proposes\nto sync up physician and patient perspectives by first defining self-care \u2013 so\neveryone\u2019s on the same page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drilling down to specifics, physicians and patients agree\nthat exercise (94 percent physicians, 71 percent patients), eating healthy\nfoods, (93 percent physicians, 74 percent patients) and getting enough sleep\n(92 percent physicians, 73 percent patients) qualify as self-care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Patients Want More<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It appears that the majority of patients (57 percent) would\nlike to broaden the definition of self-care to encompass\nphysical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Here\u2019s what\npatients say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another disconnect that Dr. Jonas stresses: \u201cWhile\nnearly all physicians \u2013 97 percent \u2013 say they think their patients would\nbenefit from self-care, only 33 percent of physicians actually discuss\nself-care with patients. That\u2019s a big gap. And it turns out that even when physicians\ndo talk about self-care with patients, topics are usually focused on diet, exercise,\nand substance abuse. Those are important factors in health and well being, no\ndoubt, but by no means do they cover all the self-care needs a patient might\nhave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think Positive \u2013 It\u2019s Good For Your Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking beyond the disconnects for\na moment, Dr. Jonas returns to a positive point worth repeating. \u201cSelf-care is\nhigh on everybody\u2019s list. That\u2019s meaningful. It dispels every myth that\nself-care is peripheral and not really worthy of our attention in the clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for viable steps to help close\nthe gap between patient and physician perspectives on self-care, Dr. Jonas has\nsuggestions. First we need to clear up misconceptions. Patients want to talk\nabout self-care with their physicians; physicians want to talk about self-care\nwith their patients; so let\u2019s do it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next we need to strike down or work around barriers that prevent physician\/patient communication about self-care. For instance, the study says, two barriers in particular are physician burnout and patient guilt. To read up on ways to knock down these barriers, stay tuned for Part II: Building A Strong Physician-Patient Connection On Self-Care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resource<\/p>\n\n\n\n