Don’t let this long stretch of quiet from me fool you. I’ve been hard at work in the realm of health communication. I gave a couple webinars earlier this summer. The first was for the Principal Investigators Association on strategies for building an effective communication environment. The second was for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals on using communication theory to improve informed consent. The two webinars were a great opportunity for me to teach other clinical research professionals about the importance of communication and how it impacts wide-reaching aspects of our work lives.
Up next, I am preparing to collaborate with a new group on a project to improve how scientists and physicians communicate with lay audiences about risk. I am excited for this new opportunity to share the importance of high quality communication to promote understanding of both science and health care. I hope to make a significant contribution to this important area and maybe even learn something along the way.
Showing posts with label risk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label risk. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The limitations of communicating risk
The New York Times Well blog had an article earlier this week about how elite athletes continue to use performance enhancing drugs, despite the known risk. One study mentioned in the article compared attitudes to non-athletes and were astonished at the difference in attitudes toward taking risks if it will enhance performance. Elite athletes are more willing to take huge risks.
Practitioners and physicians would do well to keep in mind that risk tolerance is not universal. Some people may have different motivations for taking risks. If the motivation is strong enough, say the motivation to win an Olympic gold medal, no amount of communication may talk that athlete out of a big risk.
Practitioners and physicians would do well to keep in mind that risk tolerance is not universal. Some people may have different motivations for taking risks. If the motivation is strong enough, say the motivation to win an Olympic gold medal, no amount of communication may talk that athlete out of a big risk.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Communication about cancer screening
Yesterday, the American Cancer Society announced a shift on their position on certain cancer screenings. The Cancer Society said that American medicine has over-promised on the benefits of screening and some screenings over-diagnosis disease while missing other deadly diagnoses.
While there is healthy debate about the Society's decision itself, from a health communication perspective it reinforces that medical professionals need to take time to engage in discussion with their patients about the real risks and benefits of screening exams. Many patients expect medicine to be certain, where in reality uncertainties abound and not every decision is as simple as "You should get this test when you reach this age." Clinicians need to understand how each individual patient understands and assess risk and other health information. There is a growing body of research examining both how individuals understand numbers (numeracy) and how they assess risks and benefits. But the research is meaningless unless physicians and patients engage in continued dialogue and education about the goals of care, treatment and screening. Continued conversations won't necessarily make the decisions about screening quicker or easier, but they have the potential to ensure that individual doctors and patients the decision that is right for them.
While there is healthy debate about the Society's decision itself, from a health communication perspective it reinforces that medical professionals need to take time to engage in discussion with their patients about the real risks and benefits of screening exams. Many patients expect medicine to be certain, where in reality uncertainties abound and not every decision is as simple as "You should get this test when you reach this age." Clinicians need to understand how each individual patient understands and assess risk and other health information. There is a growing body of research examining both how individuals understand numbers (numeracy) and how they assess risks and benefits. But the research is meaningless unless physicians and patients engage in continued dialogue and education about the goals of care, treatment and screening. Continued conversations won't necessarily make the decisions about screening quicker or easier, but they have the potential to ensure that individual doctors and patients the decision that is right for them.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
lingering misconceptions
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the pink ribbons are everywhere and on everything. Despite the huge awareness campaigns and media coverage, breast cancer myths still abound. The National Breast Cancer Coalition recently published a survey of 1,000 women, asking them questions about breast cancer and risk. The New York Times mentioned the survey in its wellness blog "Well." http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/despite-awareness-campaigns-breast-cancer-myths-linger/
But even more interesting than the blog, are the comments about the blog. Many posts accused the media of perpetuating myths and furthering confusion about risk and breast cancer. Many people struggle with issues of numeracy and risk perception.
Are the media making it worse?
But even more interesting than the blog, are the comments about the blog. Many posts accused the media of perpetuating myths and furthering confusion about risk and breast cancer. Many people struggle with issues of numeracy and risk perception.
Are the media making it worse?
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