Understanding the Disease Process

Posted by Anthony Lee May 23, 2009

Whenever I see doctors and patients together, I often see two different levels of understanding. On one level, the doctor can picture the patient's disease process as it occurs, from which the doctor can understand the rationale behind diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions. On another level, the patient, assuming one without a medical background, typically focuses on one thing: relief of symptoms. Of course, both sides are interested in the same goal of treating the patient's problem.

Still, there are situations where patients may find it helpful to understand what's going on in their bodies. This is particularly true for chronic conditions. Suppose, for example, a patient has chest pain because of a heart attack and receives acute and long-term treatment for it. If that patient only cares about how he or she feels symptomatically, then it might be clear why he or she is taking the medications prescribed. On the other hand, if that same patient were to understand that a heart attack involves death of heart muscle, which may possibly recur and/or result in further complications, then he or she may understand the importance of treatment.

Of course, I don't have studies that could back this up. They are based entirely on my own observations as a patient and as a former clinician. Even so, it might be something to consider, because the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for any condition are based on the pathophysiology of a condition. If you can understand the underlying disease process, then everything else will make sense.