Experimental Evidence (Doctor-Patient Communication)

Question 1

Department of Health, 2010 - change in causes of death

Answer 1

Infectious disease only accounts for 2% of all deaths. Non-communicable diseases e.g. cancer cause a huge majority. The onset of disease in early life is primarily caused by the way we live our lives

Question 2

Sapolsky, 2004 - definition of genetic heritability

Answer 2

Genes are not about inevitability or behaviour. But rather vulnerability and tendency

Question 3

Engel, 1980 - developed a model of health

Answer 3

Biopsychosocial Model of health and illness

Question 4

Henningsen et al, 2003 - effect of mood

Answer 4

Mood has an effect on symptoms. Stress and anxiety will increase symptom perception whereas relaxation eases them

Question 5

Van Zuuren, 1998 - symptom attention

Answer 5

Focusing on symptoms exacerbate them whereas distraction can alleviate them

Question 6

Mechanic, 1962 - studying disease influence

Answer 6

Diseases can have a social influence e.g. when medical students study a disease many think they have symptoms

Question 7

Zola, 1973 - when do people seek help

Answer 7

People will only seek medical help when their symptoms impact daily life. In an attempt to restore equilibrium

Question 8

Mapes, 1980 - doctors individuality

Answer 8

The various beliefs doctors hold will greatly impact their diagnosis and prescribing behaviour. Mapes found a 15-90% variation in the prescribing behaviours of doctors

Question 9

Peretti-Wattel, 2003 - doctors experiences

Answer 9

Doctors personal experience affects their views on health. Palliative care and end of life doctors less in favour of euthanasia compared to other types of doctors

Question 10

Isen et al, 1991 - doctors moods

Answer 10

Found that a health professionals mood affects their treatment

Question 11

Byrne and Long, 1976 - consultation

Answer 11

Developed the traditional model of consultation:
Professional (pro) builds rapport with patient (p)
Pro discovers reason for attendance
Pro conducts physical/verbal assessment
Pro/Pro+P/P (in order of probability) consider condition
Pro considers next step e.g. referral, treatment

Question 12

DiMatteo et al, 2002 - adherence vs compliance

Answer 12

Meta-analysis found that treatment was 3 times as effective if the patient adhered to rather than complied with treatment

Question 13

Simpson et al, 2006 - adherence vs complaince

Answer 13

Odds of dying are halved if people adhere to their medication

Question 14

Cramer et al, 2008 - adherence vs complaince

Answer 14

Half of diabetes patients are expected to be non-compliant in their treatment

Question 15

Bain, 1977 - post-consultation memory

Answer 15

After GP consultation:
37% couldn’t remember the name of the drug
23% couldn’t remember the frequency of the dose
25% couldn’t remember the duration of the treatment

Question 16

Sala et al, 2002 - how to ensure people are satisfied with treatment

Answer 16

Found that if there was some light humour in medicine labels people were much more satisfied with their treatment

Question 17

Degner and Sloan, 1992 - doctor-patient treatment relationship

Answer 17

Found 41% of cancer patients want to decide their own treatment and 64% of non-patients