This is one of the important results of a recent poll of 1,008 patients and 230 primary care physicians commissioned by an advisory council headed by former U.S. Surgeon general C. Everett Coop. Sponsored by Pharmacia & Upjohn, the council is seeking to break down communication barriers between patients and doctors.
The survey found that 93 percent of physicians agreed that medical problems could be averted if patients were more open about medical problems. In addition, 68 percent of the doctors said it was difficult to treat patients who are reluctant to discuss embarrassing medical conditions.
A quarter of the patients admitted to withholding embarrassing information from their doctors. Urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and prostate cancer were cited as difficult topics to bring up.
Panel members urged patients to seek medical care and counsel on a regular basis and inform physicians of all changes in their health status. Doctors were urged to take time to listen to patients and to respond without judgment, criticism or condemnation.
