6.7: Checking Progress and Dealing with Barriers
Dealing with barriers
Dr Hilton Koppe is an Australian GP who has been very involved in issues around doctors’ well-being. He has explored potential barriers to good medical care when the patient is a doctor, as seen in the table.(1)
|
Issue |
Patient doctor |
|
Boundary issues |
Previous or other ongoing relationships Reluctance to take on patient role |
|
Fear and/or embarrassment |
Potential embarrassment of presenting with a trivial complaint thinking it was something serious, or of presenting late with something serious Embarrassment about having started management of their condition |
|
Confidentiality |
Concerns about who will have access to medical records, or who will know about treatment being received |
|
Time |
Busy doctors find it hard to take time for medical appointments Awareness of how busy colleagues are, and not wanting to add to their load Some doctors find it too hard to make time to see another doctor, especially for preventive care. It is much easier for them to take their own blood pressure, organise their own blood tests or write their own prescriptions. |
|
Money |
Conflict between wanting to pay for treatment received and feeling of entitlement to be bulk billed. |
|
Medicolegal |
Awareness of potential of reporting to medical board may act as barrier to full disclosure of important information. |
|
Medical knowledge |
Having knowledge of likely outcomes from certain symptoms or medical situations can act as a barrier to doctors seeking medical attention. It might seem preferable to ignore the possibility of that diagnosis by not seeking appropriate medical care. |
Having an awareness of these barriers can help you to reflect on your personal choices in relation to your health and well-being. For further information on barriers to good health care read the following document Koppe.pdf.
All doctors are encouraged to have their own GP and appropriate health checks to maintain mental and physical well-being. Please consider whether you need to factor this into your own personal goals.
Reflective exercise
Please apply the next stages in the change cycle in considering your personal goals.
Research
Additional resources to aid the ability to deal with barriers have been recommended.
- Kersley S, Hutton-Taylor S, Life after medicine: For doctors who want a trouble-free transition. Radcliffe Publishing, UK, 2010.
- Kersley S, ABC of change for doctors, Radcliffe Publishing, UK, 2006.
- Kersley S, Get ready for retirement – How to have a life after work. Lulu.com, 2008.
- BMJ Career focus has some good advice and tips on personal development and life work balance http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/advice-overview.html
- Wikihow offers valuable tips. The links for weight loss and getting closure are given as examples are given as examples of what Wikihow has to offer:
References
- Koppe H. Barriers to good health care. Australian Family Physician 2010; 39;1/2:71–3.
