The discussion surrounding the environmental impact of medical treatments is gaining momentum among patients. A recent study conducted by the Dutch Patient Federation revealed that patients are increasingly concerned about the sustainability factor when it comes to choosing treatments. However, whether or not doctors broach the topic of sustainability during consultations can impact patient confidence in them.
Egid van Bree, a Ph.D. candidate at LUMC, highlighted the importance of evaluating doctors’ expectations regarding patient reactions to discussions about sustainability. Together with doctoral candidate Eva Visser, they conducted a study to investigate whether patients would lose confidence in a doctor who raises the sustainability factor during treatment discussions.
The study, which involved over 1,500 participants from diverse backgrounds, presented them with different scenarios simulating medical consultations. Each scenario featured a doctor recommending a specific treatment for a particular condition, with one scenario emphasizing the sustainability aspect of the treatment.
Surprisingly, the study found that explicitly mentioning sustainability had minimal impact on most participants’ confidence in the doctor. Van Bree noted that the fear of negative patient reactions among doctors might be unfounded based on these results. However, a small number of patients expressed negative reactions to sustainability discussions, prioritizing their health over environmental benefits.
The interdisciplinary collaboration between doctors and psychologists provided valuable insights into patient reactions and consultation quality. Van Bree acknowledged that the collaboration enhanced his understanding of research methods and terms, leading to a more comprehensive analysis of the study results.
Overall, the study sheds light on the importance of integrating sustainability discussions into clinical counseling without compromising patient confidence in doctors. By addressing environmental concerns during consultations, healthcare providers can contribute to promoting eco-friendly practices without jeopardizing patient trust.
For more information, you can refer to the study published in medRxiv by Egid M van Bree et al. titled “Integrating environmental sustainability in clinical counseling: a randomized, double-blinded, experimental vignette study of satisfaction with care.”
This article was provided by Leiden University, a leading institution in research and education. For further details and updates, you can visit their website.
