Abstract below, but I encourage reading the paper - it’s short and open access: bmj.com/content/bmj/29…
(H/T @AdamRodmanMD and @drjohnm)
Some thoughts..
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“Negativity” is basically conflated with acknowledgement of uncertainty without much elaboration or statement of hope/optimism.
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But I am also convinced that when we oversimplify, try to make patterns where there are none, ignore complexity or inconvenient details - we make diagnostic errors and fail to connect with our patients.
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I don’t know if there’s newer literature on whether addressing uncertainty with patients could affect their perceptions and outcomes.
But *how* it’s done is bound to be a big determinant.
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But being disingenuous and pretending things are clear when the patient sees they’re not might be even more harmful.
I would assume that most patients see it. Our job is to help them manage it.
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...of optimism AND of being cared for by the physician. Which was the other fascinating perspective in the paper.
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That placebo can be so powerful, especially for some patients. We should use it more, whether we’re also writing a script or not.
8/8