All articles tagged with #patient experiences
A study analyzing online posts from patients with idiopathic hypersomnia reveals that individuals experience relentless sleepiness, inability to feel fully awake, automatic behaviors, and significant impacts on relationships and mental health, highlighting the need for improved diagnosis and treatment.
The article discusses the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD in accessing effective treatment, highlighting issues like strict prescribing regulations, stigma, and bureaucratic hurdles, while also sharing personal stories about medication use, the impact of treatment, and the need for better healthcare policies. It emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis and the complex interplay between medical regulation and patient needs.
The article shares various distressing and sometimes shocking experiences patients have had with doctors, highlighting issues of poor communication, insensitivity, and neglect in healthcare settings.
Long covid continues to affect millions of people, including Lisa Merlo, who battled severe symptoms and multiple amputations after a 2020 covid diagnosis. Patients like Natalie DiBenedetto and Brenda March also struggle with debilitating symptoms, from memory issues to nerve pain, affecting their ability to work and perform daily tasks. Despite ongoing challenges, healthcare professionals are working to understand and address long covid, with clinics seeing a steady flow of patients and no clear end in sight for the condition.
Philips Respironics' recall of its DreamStation breathing machines and other sleep apnea devices has left millions of patients waiting for replacements due to foam inside the machines potentially releasing carcinogenic materials. A documentary film captures the experiences of patients and doctors navigating the fallout of the recall, highlighting the difficult choices faced by patients and the impact on their lives. The film aims to humanize the individuals affected and raise awareness about the implications of the recall.
A study led by the University of Cambridge and King's College London found that patients' experiences and self-assessments are often undervalued by clinicians when making diagnostic decisions. The research highlighted biases related to ethnicity and gender, with women more likely to be told their symptoms were psychosomatic. The study called for a shift away from the "doctor knows best attitude" and emphasized the importance of listening to and valuing patients' insights. While some clinicians highly valued patient opinions, fewer than 4% ranked patients' self-assessments as important evidence. The inclusion of patient insights could lead to improved diagnostic accuracy, fewer misdiagnoses, and greater patient satisfaction.
A study led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and Kings' College London found that clinicians rank patient self-assessments as the least important factor in diagnostic decisions. The study highlighted the under-valuation of patient reports and the tendency for patients to be disbelieved or have their symptoms downplayed. Clinicians ranked their own assessments highest, despite acknowledging their lack of confidence in diagnosing invisible symptoms. The study emphasized the need to value patients' insights and experiences, particularly for long-standing diseases, and called for a more collaborative relationship between patients and clinicians. Including patients' perspectives in diagnosis could lead to improved accuracy, fewer misdiagnoses, and greater patient satisfaction.
A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals that many people of color in the United States worry about facing racial discrimination and judgment when seeking healthcare. The survey found that over half of Black adults feel they have to be careful about their appearance to be treated fairly by healthcare providers, along with a significant percentage of American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Asian patients. Racial disparities in health outcomes and negative experiences with healthcare providers were also reported. The survey highlights the importance of diversity in healthcare providers and the need to address racial bias in the healthcare system.
Dozens of women who underwent fertility treatment at a clinic in Yale experienced unexpected and severe pain during the egg retrieval procedure. Many felt that their pain was not taken seriously by healthcare providers, leading them to blame themselves. It was later discovered that a nurse at the clinic had been stealing fentanyl and replacing it with saline, providing an explanation for the patients' pain. The incident raises questions about the institution's oversight and patient care.
Six women who have taken semaglutide, a drug originally developed for diabetes that was approved for weight loss in 2021, shared their experiences with Insider. Semaglutide works by suppressing appetite, but side effects such as muscle loss, nausea, and diarrhea have been reported, and it's common to regain the weight after stopping treatment. The drug is expensive, with Wegovy costing $1,349 a month and Ozempic $892 if they're not covered by insurance. The women shared their pros and cons of the drug, including weight loss, improved blood work, and regaining confidence, but also experiencing nausea, constipation, and backlash for taking the medication.