Primary care doctors play an important role at the front line in chronic disease management. Yet their relationships with patients have not evolved much over the decades, even as technology, payment systems and delivery models continue to evolve dramatically.
Most patients still view the relationship as one where they list static updates on their condition to their doctors, then passively receive instructions on how to manage the condition until the next visit.
“Doctors continuing to give generic instructions without a deeper level of behavioural context and insights into a patient’s lifestyle are like pilots flying without complete visibility, course correcting only after hitting turbulence,” said Dr Sue-Anne Toh, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director at NOVI Health, and Dr Lew Yii Jen, Chief Executive Officer and Family Physician, Senior Consultant, at the National University Polyclinics.
With World Diabetes Day falling on 14 November, Drs Toh and Lew consider the importance of the doctor-patient relationship in diabetes management.
The authors added, “Take diabetes for instance. If a doctor does not understand the personal lifestyle factors influencing a patient’s behaviour and adherence to diet or medication instructions, how can he or she provide useful advice to the patient?”
Read on more about how patients can work with their primary care doctors to better manage their diabetes: