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Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud
Since that time, I've researched each and every drug that's been prescribed to me, my wife and children, then weigh the positives and negatives before just filling the prescription and picking it up at CVS.
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Your healthcare provider really should help you with that, and I'm sorry that responsibility has fallen on you. I applaud you for putting in the work, though, and realizing that ultimately it is your health and your body.
This conversation is an interesting one, and a very complicated one
One of the issues is time, talking about these things takes time, and a lot of providers don't have enough time.
Next, some people just want to be told what to do with their healthcare. They don't want recommendations or options. In medicine you have to be a bit of a chameleon, taking different approaches with different patients depending on their expectations. It's also important to keep in mind that not all patients and providers are a good fit for each other, and that's ok.
Previously, a lot of physician were trained this way as well. Healthcare was prescriptive and not patient centered. Decision making was not shared. Some providers also take pride in telling patients what to do and being authoritative ("don't give options, man up and tell them what to do")
Another thing to keep in mind, is that when we are looking at medical therapies, it's based on treating populations, not individuals.
I'm going to make up some numbers to give an example.
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Let's say that a group of people has a 10 percent risk of a heart attack, and a medicine reduces that risk to 5 percent. You could tell a patient "this medicine reduces your risk of a heart attack by 50 percent (relative risk reduction, 10 percent to 5 percent, most meds are advertised this way).
You would also be correct saying it reduces you risk by 5 percent (absolute risk reduction 10 percent to 5 percent)
Based on this data, you would need to give 20 people this medicine to prevent one heart attack.
I could take this information and say, I have 500 patients on this medicine, I've prevented 25 heart attacks.
As a patient, you are wondering if you are 1 of the 25 people in my practice getting a benefit.
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I've probably left more questions than answers, but that happens a lot with me. I have absolutely enjoyed this conversation, though.
I think that if you keep looking, you will find providers that are good fit for you, but continue to be your own advocate, especially when it comes to your own health.