During my hospital and clinic exposures as a senior medical clerk, I’ve encountered a lot of patients who switched physicians because of one reason: drug side effects but their doctors failed to mention it to them. For an average layman, he would think that he has been inadequately informed, which was true at some point and the result is broken trust to the physician, especially if he has learned that side effect from a neighbor who claims to have a “similar” experience.
Recently, my fathers’ blood pressure has been fluctuating. His blood pressure was always ranging from 130-140/80-100 mmHg and was maintaining an anti-hypertensive drug. However, recently, his blood pressure rises up to 160/100 mmHg, so he decided to consult his physician who added another anti-hypertensive to his maintenance drugs.
But my father has been complaining to me about his cough which was seemingly aggravated by his additional drug. I explained to him that the drug’s most common side effects is coughing. I’ve been convincing him to go to his physician but refuses to and decided to switch to another internist due to that reason.
Why is it always important to explain everything to your patient?
- It is one way of building a patient-doctor relationship, which is at the very fulcrum of care.
- In the advent of the internet, every information (including misleading ones) is available to the patient. He will believe everything he reads. Yesterday, we had a patient who could explain the mechanism of action, side effects, dosage, etc. of the drug she was taking.
- You gain trust and respect. Your patients’ perceived that they mattered to you (as a doctor), whatever their background, way of life or philosophy. You will then be recommended to other patients.
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