0
0
August 3, 2024 — New York, NY — A recent study conducted by the Stevens Institute of Technology has uncovered a troubling trend: healthcare professionals may harbor negative views toward patients who disclose incorrect or unconventional health beliefs. This research highlights a critical issue in patient-provider communication, suggesting that patients might feel judged and hesitant to share important health information.
The study, led by Dr. Samantha Kleinberg and her team, surveyed over 350 patients and more than 200 physicians to understand how medical beliefs influence perceptions of patients. Participants were asked to evaluate individuals holding various health beliefs, ranging from benign misconceptions to more extreme or conspiratorial theories.
Dr. Kleinberg’s findings reveal that both laypeople and healthcare professionals tend to view patients more negatively when they express unreasonable or conspiracy-driven health beliefs. Surprisingly, the extent of negative perception was consistent across both doctors and patients with chronic health conditions. This indicates a broader issue in patient care, where even those familiar with the complexities of health are not necessarily more empathetic toward misguided beliefs.
“The degree to which healthcare professionals held negative perceptions towards patients espousing misinformation surprised us,” says Dr. Onur Asan, a co-author of the study. “It suggests that doctors may need additional support and resources to effectively treat such patients.”
The study also found that the more unreasonable the belief, the harsher the judgment from both laypeople and professionals. For instance, individuals who believed in outlandish conspiracy theories about healthcare were viewed much more negatively compared to those holding less extreme misconceptions.
Dr. Kleinberg emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their beliefs without fear of judgment. “We rely on our doctors to educate us and help us overcome these medical misconceptions — but that’s only possible if we’re able to express our ideas freely, without fear of being judged when we get things wrong,” she notes.
One of the key challenges highlighted by the study is that patients often lack the knowledge to determine whether their health beliefs are accurate or not. This uncertainty can lead them to withhold even valid concerns to avoid negative evaluations from their healthcare providers.
The study suggests that improving patient-doctor interactions requires a shift in how physicians approach misinformation. Dr. Kleinberg advocates for a more empathetic and non-judgmental approach, encouraging doctors to support patients in discussing their health beliefs openly.
“If we want to have clear communication between patients and healthcare professionals, we need to change the way that doctors think about patients who are misinformed,” Dr. Kleinberg asserts. “Doctors need to overcome their tendency to judge patients and actively encourage them to share their thoughts — even their incorrect ones — much more freely than they currently do.”
The research underscores the need for continued exploration into how negative perceptions impact real-world patient-doctor dynamics and calls for a more compassionate approach to patient care.
For further information about this study and its implications, please contact Dr. Samantha Kleinberg at the Stevens Institute of Technology.
