Addressing Patient Questions on Clinical Research

With new and emerging research making headlines almost every day, patients are more aware of scientific advances than ever before and may go to their practitioner with questions. For example, let’s say a news organization reports on a study that claims eggs lead to high cholesterol. A patient struggling with high cholesterol may read this and completely remove eggs from their diet. Now, let’s say that same news organization reports on another study a few weeks later, only this time touts the benefits of egg consumption on cholesterol. The patient is left confused and decides to consult their physician about whether eggs are “good” or “bad.” 

While this example may be fictitious, the scenario is all too reminiscent of real studies on nutrition, supplements, diets, and other programs and procedures that patients may come across in the news or social media and take to heart. Thus far, this resource has focused on how to extrapolate clinically useful information from scientific research. This section will help you put that knowledge to practice and clear up confusion with patients. 

Listen to the Patient

Patients who take the time to read health related articles or research their symptoms and potential treatment options likely care about their wellbeing. However, even when a new study offers clinically relevant takeaways, it’s often difficult for non-healthcare professionals to interpret correctly. The best option is to first listen to the patient’s point of view. Find out more about the information they encountered and, if possible, look up the study or studies yourself. Take time to understand what the patient is curious or concerned about and give them credit for their commitment to their health. Then, offer your own perspective and recommendation. If possible, give the patient options to choose from and develop a working therapeutic relationship where their voice is both heard and directly considered.

Educate

Take the opportunity to provide some education about health, science, and clinical studies, so your patients have the tools to separate flashy headlines from real science. Explain concepts using details they already know and find ways to make it relevant to them. This may take some initial work to get to know your patients from a broader perspective but will ultimately ensure your patient is satisfied with the answers you’ve provided them.

Many people do not understand the connection between health-related messages and the research behind them. When talking about scientific research and clinical trials with patients, keep it simple. Find out what they know and go from there.

If the patient has questions about the process, start by describing what a research study or clinical trial is in plain language. Clarify your definition with an example that will make sense to the patient. If the patient is more concerned with the result, there’s no need to offer a definition, and instead focus more generally on what the study found and how it might apply to the patient.

Offer Resources

Practitioners may consider creating a general resource or worksheet for patients that explains the basics of clinical research and how to identify quality information. An example is provided in this guide.

Another option is to highlight clinical research from popular media in regular patient communications. If your practice has a regular e-mail newsletter or blog, consider a short monthly round-up of trending studies, where you identify the headlines and offer your own expert takeaway, as well as what it means for your patients.

Education should be light-hearted and informative, not condescending. Encourage patients to come to you with questions about clinical studies, especially information that might be relevant to them.

Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from the e-book, Clinical Research Guide for Integrative Healthcare Professionals. To access the full text, click here.