Many people aren’t upfront with their doctors and other health care providers about some of their habits and behaviors, which likely reduces the quality of care they receive.
Some of the questions patients are less than honest with their physicians about include:
- Exercise and/or diet habits.
- All the medications they’re taking.
- Not taking medications as instructed.
- Taking someone else’s prescribed medicine.
- Not understanding the provider’s instructions.
- Disagreeing with the provider’s recommendations.
The main reason most patients are less than truthful to their physician is they are embarrassed about their health choices, followed by not wanting to be lectured by their doctor.
The trouble with a patient’s dishonesty is that doctors can’t offer accurate medical advice when they don’t have all the facts.
If patients are withholding information about what they’re eating, or whether they are taking their medication, it can have significant implications for their health—especially if they have a chronic illness.
Patients who honestly communicate with their doctors make more appropriate medical decisions and have better health outcomes.
Granny NANNIES was established in 1990 to provide seniors with in-home care. Operating under the founding premise that reliable and affordable senior home care should be available to everyone, professional care providers offer personalized services to meet the requirements of any individual, regardless of age or need, in their home. Services are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.