In medicine, and especially in clinical neurology, communication plays a very important, if not crucial role in the implementation of medical recommendations and the application of medicinal therapies. The communication of medical recommendations is often not easy, not only because modern medicine is becoming more complicated, but also – this is my personal impression – because many people lack the knowledge, the basic understanding of how their body works, and many people are also not aware of the principles and requirements of modern medicine. Hence the slightly ironic question in the headline: Would you like a little bit more? – Yes, please.
Know a lot: People with Multiple Sclerosis
I would like to explicitly exclude the group of MS patients here and would like to commend my MS patients at this point – usually people with MS are very well informed about the disease pattern and the immunological basics of the disease – many continue to educate themselves and have become real experts in the field of multiple sclerosis. I personally appreciate this very much – because one can discuss the disease very differently with these patients and think together about therapy strategies – such communication on an equal footing is also pleasant for me as a doctor and seems – at least this is my impression – to help MS patients cope with the disease. Therefore, I also get annoyed when I hear that well-educated patients clash with some medical colleagues and communication is cut off – because especially with complex diseases like multiple sclerosis, an informed patient is of great value – knowledge should be promoted.
If, however, there is a lack of basic understanding, it is not only very difficult to get through to the patient with medical recommendations, but one also often sees how patients drift around aimlessly in the vast sea of unlimited opinions and information and, in the worst case, fall for charlatans whose offers lack any rational basis, but who by offering supposedly simple solutions, extract money from the victims and play with the hopes of patients.
More knowledge, better communication
One therefore wonders what could be improved – certainly it is a problem of modern medicine that there is not enough time to explain complex facts. – But sometimes it is also impossible, even with the best of intentions, in times of high patient volume and shortage of skilled staff, to explain individually, for example, the function of the immune system or the systematics of clinical studies.
Sometimes I wish that more basic knowledge about the functioning of the human body, but also about the principles of how medical-scientific research works, would already be conveyed in school. Time and again I observe that medical laymen have little idea how their own body works or how to assess the effects and side effects of medication – this leads to overload and fear to the point of panic, and what was once solved in the home environment now ends up in the emergency room.
Therefore, my encouragement to the many MS patients who engage with the disease, who continue to educate themselves and develop their own ideas and visions – keep it up, because this makes medical communication purposeful – and motivate others to do the same.
Note: AMSEL e.V. has dedicated itself to educating MS patients and their relatives. The amsel.de section “Multiple Sclerosis” offers clear information on MS:
There are also special offers for specific groups, such as „First diagnosis MS“, the page for newly diagnosed with MS, MS and Sport, MS and Nutrition and much more.
