We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in the doctor’s office, listening intently as your physician explains your diagnosis, treatment options, and next steps. You nod, maybe even take some notes, and walk out of the office feeling informed. But as soon as you’re home, you realize that most of what was said is a blur. Sound familiar?
The Reality of Information Retention
Studies indicate that patients may forget between 40-80% of medical information immediately after a consultation (Ley, 1979). To make matters worse, about half of the information that patients do remember is often incorrect (Tattersall et al., 2002).
The gap between what is said during a medical consultation and what is actually retained by patients can have significant consequences. It could mean misunderstandings about medication regimens, lifestyle changes, or follow-up appointments, which in turn could lead to less-than-optimal health outcomes.
The Factors Affecting Memory Retention
Several factors contribute to this lack of retention, including:
- Stress: Medical appointments can be stressful, impairing our cognitive functions, including memory.
- Jargon: Medical terminology is often difficult for laypersons to understand.
- Information Overload: A single appointment can provide a ton of information, making it hard to process and remember everything.
The Solution: HealthMe
Our upcoming app, HealthMe, is designed to solve this problem. Features of the app include:
- Recording Consultations: Capture every important detail discussed during the appointment.
- Secure Storage: Keep your medical records safe and accessible.
- Easy Sharing: Make sure everyone in your healthcare circle stays informed.
By utilizing these features, you can ensure that you not only remember critical details from your medical consultations but also have the information when you need it.
Conclusion
Forgetting medical advice is a common issue, but it’s one that has a significant impact on healthcare outcomes. Tools like HealthMe can be invaluable in bridging the gap between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that important medical information is captured, stored securely, and easily accessible when needed.
References
- Ley, P. (1979). “On the giving and receiving of medical advice.“
- Tattersall, R. N. J., Butow, P., Griffin, A. M., & Dunn, S. M. (2002). “How much do patients remember from medical consultations?“
