Poll: Patients Want to Talk to Physicians About Self-Care

According to recent survey results, patients want more information from physicians on self-care.

The online survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Samueli Integrative Health Programs, included 1,006 U.S. adults (≥18 years) who were surveyed from May 23 to June 4, 2019, and 304 physicians who specialize in internal medicine or family practice, who were surveyed from May 23 to June 19, 2019. The survey assessed perceptions of self-care, which includes lifestyle changes, healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, and other alternatives to conventional medical treatment.

The survey findings revealed that nearly half of doctors (46 percent) say patients do not seem very interested in self-care. However, the majority of patients (72 percent) say they are interested in discussing self-care with their health care provider. Additionally, two-thirds of patients wish their physician shared more resources on self-care. Physicians report their top reason for not discussing topics related to self-care is a lack of time during appointments (78 percent). While the vast majority of physicians (93 percent) would like to provide their patients more information on self-care, only one in four (26 percent) feel very confident doing so.

"Encouraging patients to incorporate self-care practices into their daily lives is not only important for their health, it's a critical component in reducing our country's chronic disease burden," Wayne Jonas, M.D., executive director of Samueli Integrative Health Programs, said in a statement.

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