WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sep 27, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Researchers at the
University of Manitoba in Canada say they've found that being a good patient can
help prevent doctors' misdiagnoses.
Business Administration Professor Raymond Lee, who co-wrote the study, said
troublesome patients can lead to doctors being unable to accurately diagnosis
their problems and being unable to offer effective treatment, The (Toronto)
Globe and Mail reported Saturday.
"When you have patients that can't communicate, there's going to be a big issue
Â? . Physicians may not be able to provide the right diagnosis," Lee said.
The study focused on responses from nearly 300 doctors in the Canadian province
of Manitoba regarding their daily interactions with patients.
Among the problems identified by doctors were a lack of positive rapport with
patients and a limited diagnosis time frame.
Dr. Janet McElhaney, a member of the British Columbia Medical Association, told
the newspaper confusing patients can also be a treatment concern.
"I would say we need to do better with what's available with the current
technology around giving patients information in ways that are digestible," the
University of British Columbia professor said.
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