"There is value to patients seeing their doctors and being engaged in the healthcare system, even when they don't receive a prescription," says Sue Ramspacher, Senior Vice President of the Healthcare Consumer Practice at NOP World Health. "Those who don't visit their doctors, and simply diagnose and treat themselves, often experience serious problems controlling their symptoms.
"Contrary to the belief that self-diagnosed patients are suffering from only mild forms of their conditions, many rate their illnesses as moderate to severe -- and have symptoms that are interfering with the quality of their lives. They are simply suffering in silence. It is important to find ways to motivate these people to seek the treatment they need."
Physician/Patient Relationships Improve with Time
Not only does visiting the doctor deliver benefits, but those benefits improve over time. As patients move up the treatment continuum, their relationships with their physicians strengthen. Patients who see their physicians regularly -- particularly those who have progressed to receiving prescription therapy -- have far higher perceptions of their doctors than their self-diagnosed counterparts. They have more trust in their doctors' advice ... understand physicians' instructions more completely ... feel more comfortable asking questions ... and are more satisfied with the answers they receive.
"PatientDriver suggests that a good doctor/patient relationship takes practice," according to Ramspacher. "The longer a patient sees a doctor, the stronger the bond between them. Over time, it becomes more likely that the patient will receive a prescription -- and that he or she will trust the doctor's advice to take that prescription.
"The positive effects of a continuing patient/physician relationship -- and the resulting treatment -- are clear. Research shows that those patients diagnosed by doctors and taking prescription drugs are most likely to feel positive about life, maintain stable relationships and continue to contribute to society, despite their conditions."
More Than 2,400 Adults Share Insight into Patient Experiences, Values and Behaviors
PatientDriver(TM) information is based on Internet survey with more than 2,400 adults, 18 or older, across a full range of ages, ethnicities and demographics. Fielded in the fourth quarter of 2003, PatientDriver covers three diagnosis categories -- self-diagnosed ... physician-diagnosed, not treated with any prescription medications ... and physician-diagnosed, treated with a prescription medication.
The first PatientDriver study looks at patient experiences across 10 chronic disorders, including acid reflux ... allergic rhinitis ... anxiety/depression ... asthma ... diabetes ... hyperlipidemia ... migraine ... osteoarthritis ... and osteoporosis. Future PatientDrivers will be conducted annually, with each specific to a disease category or set of symptoms.
About NOP World Health ...
A leading supplier of primary research to the global healthcare community, NOP World Health is the health-focused arm of NOP World -- a top-ten market research power worldwide. Bringing together some of the most renowned US and European research firms in a unified global network, NOP World is a wholly- owned subsidiary of UK-based United Business Media plc (NASDAQ:UNEWY).
NOP World Health was formed in February by integrating three healthcare research leaders: Market Measures/Cozint, the premier supplier of US market and disease state analyses ... NOP Healthcare, UK-domestic and international quantitative and qualitative ad hoc consultancy and omnibus services ... and Strategic Marketing Corporation, the leader in strategic problem solving and consulting.
