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In Case You Haven't Heard
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
mental health weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7583
pISSN - 1058-1103
DOI - 10.1002/mhw.31721
Subject(s) - haven , safe haven , psychology , lying , social psychology , healthy eating , gerontology , medicine , physical activity , physical therapy , mathematics , combinatorics , international economics , economics , radiology
Fear of being judged and embarrassed are among the reasons patients lie to their doctors, Science Daily reported Nov. 30. Up to 80 percent of those surveyed have lied to their doctor about information that could impact their health, including accurately describing their diet and how often they exercise. Besides lying about diet and exercise, more than a third of respondents didn't speak up when they disagreed with their doctor's recommendation. When survey participants explained their reasoning for doing so, they said they wanted to avoid being judged and didn't want to be lectured about how bad certain behaviors were. The study's first author, Andrea Gurmankin Levy, Ph.D., MBe, an associate professor in social sciences at Middlesex Community College in Middletown, Connecticut, added: “If patients are withholding information about what they're eating, or whether they are taking their medication, it can have significant implications for their health. Especially if they have a chronic illness.”