Semi OT When Patients Know More

[JDS74]

An interesting article in the British Medical Journal.
"What Happens When the Patient Knows More Than Their Doctor"
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/11/e003583.full

Some of this may apply to treating sleep apnea.

Just thinking.

[kcellwood]

Can't say if I know more than my sleep doctor. I have never met him nor talked to him. All I know is he read my study ( I assume), told my PCP to write a script for 8 and don't forget to send along the payment.

[Delta4]

Amen and thank you for posting this!!!

[Rustsmith]

Fascinating article, thanks for posting! So true and yet potentially so scary. It is also applicable to so many chronic conditions beyond just diabetes and OSA.

[kaiasgram]

Very interesting, thanks JDS74 for posting the article link. I especially liked this part where they're discussing how they designed the study:

Service users with type 1 diabetes were involved at every stage of the project, including choice of topic, formulation of research question, design, development and conducting of the investigation, as well as analysis and writing up. The James Lind Alliance ..., INVOLVE ..., and the entirely patient-led Diabetes.co.uk Forum... advised on the development of and recruitment to an Advisory Group for the study.

I also liked that the article addressed the psychological/social piece about the power differential that is still prevalent in the medical environment, which can make it challenging for patients and their doctors to work collaboratively.

[Janknitz]

I've heard there's a lot of dissension among the Diabetes UK forum because there is a big force trying to keep low carb out and push everyone toward the standard diabetes advice. Much controversy.

[xyz]

Great article.

"Although patient education can give people confidence in their own self-management skills, it cannot solve the power imbalance that remains when a _generalist_ healthcare professional, however well meaning, blocks access to medication and supplies needed to manage chronic diseases successfully."

The worst mistake that a Type 1 diabetic can make is to have a primary care physician treat their diabetes. Always go to an endocrinologist if possible.

Many PCPs will offer, or even suggest, that they treat it, because it's more revenue for them. Bad idea.

[kaiasgram]

I've heard there's a lot of dissension among the Diabetes UK forum because there is a big force trying to keep low carb out and push everyone toward the standard diabetes advice. Much controversy.

Controversy notwithstanding, it's progress from a medical research perspective to involve an online community of patients in this kind of research and make them an integral part of the study design from start to finish. I doubt there is an online forum where there isn't controversy. Maybe our turn to be part of advancing medical research will come too.

[Janknitz]

I was thinking how awesome it would be to have something like the DAFNE program for CPAP. And how much the DME's would hate it.

[Julie]

Fantastic - now if only MDs over here would pay attention!