[tweetmeme source=”Healthmessaging” only_single=false]“I recommend.” These are two word which, when spoken by a physician to a patient have tremendous power to change behavior. That assumes of course a trusting relationship between patient and physician (but that’s a topic for another day).
Take the colonoscopy. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults aged ≥50 years get a colonoscopy every 10 years. In 2005, 50% of adults aged ≥50 years in the U.S. had been screened according to these recommendations. Not surprisingly, the rate of colonoscopy screening is much lower than that of other recommended adult preventive services. I was curious why?
Here are two interesting facts.
- Studies show that patients cite “physician recommendation” as the most important motivator of colorectal screening. In one study, 75–90% of patients who had not had a colonoscopy, said that their doctor’s recommendation would motivate them to undergo screening.
- In that same study, in 50% of patients where a colonoscopy was appropriate but not done, the reason given was that the physician simply did not “bring up” the subject during the visit. Reasons included lack of time, visit was for acute problem, patient had previously declined or forget.
What the Doctor Says Makes A Difference
Turns out that the highest colonoscopy screening rates were highest among physicians who were more adamant about the need for screening. These doctors framed the recommendation (message) to the patient as coming from them self, e.g., “I recommend” or “we recommend.” Doctors who framed the recommendation as coming from someone else, e.g., “they recommend” or “organization X recommends” had lower screening rates.
The following table provides examples of the differ ways that physicians in this study framed their recommendation to patients for colorectal cancer screening.
A Word of Clarification
In these days of patient-centered care and shared decision-making, some may question the use of physician-centric directives like “I recommended.” For one thing, a strong physician recommendation is what some patients want. For patients who want more than just the physician’s recommendation, the physician can provide them with information to help them make their own informed decision about getting a colonoscopy.
I recommend that you give this approach a try!
Sources:
Levy, B., et al. Why Hasn’t This Patient Been Screened for Colon Cancer? An Iowa Research Network Study. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2007;20:458–468
Guerra, C., et al. Barriers of and Facilitators to Physician Recommendation of Colorectal Cancer Screening. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2007; 22(12):1681–8
Mind The Gap 
I don’t understand how “I recommend” statements wouldn’t be compatible with patient-centered care or shared decision-making. I see my doctors to get advice and recommendations as well as care from them; they are, after all, far more knowledgeable about health and medicine than I am.
I seriously consider the option where the doctor or the professional recommends one over the other. After all, they should know better.
Agree with you 100%! So much of what we attribute to poor doctor-patient communication can be traced back to the provider’s lack of clarity when communicating. Are you interested at all in the role that health literacy or the lack thereof, plays in doctor-patient communications?
Nadine,
The health literacy of the patient plays an important mediating role in the communication between doctor and patient. I am very interested in health literacy. Do you a have material you would like to add here?