Patient behavior influences treatments: Study from the University of Hamburg surprises!

Patient behavior influences treatments: Study from the University of Hamburg surprises!

Nowadays, additional services provided by doctors, also known as individual health services (IGeL), are increasingly the focus of discussion. The University of Hamburg has now published an exciting study on this topic that sheds light on how patient behavior influences treatment by doctors.

The results are revealing: If patients are against an IGeL service, the treatment service is reduced by an average of 16 percent. This effect is particularly pronounced with more expensive additional services. To measure this influence, an experiment was conducted with 150 medical students who acted as doctors and 150 students from other disciplines who acted as patients. The aim of the study was to objectively demonstrate the influence of patient behavior on the behavior of doctors.

The role of the IGeL monitor

But what exactly are these IGeL benefits? Here comes the one IGeL monitor into the game. The internet portal has been evaluating these individual health services since 2012 and helping insured people make informed decisions. The assessments are based on systematic research and evaluation of scientific literature.

Current surveys show that out of 68 services evaluated, not a single one was classified as “positive”. Only three IGeL services received a “tendency positive” rating, while 27 were classified as “tendency negative”. Ultrasound examinations for early cancer detection and intraocular pressure measurement are particularly heavily criticized because the benefits often do not justify the potential harm.

Challenges in medical practice

The Investigation also mentions the challenges that practices currently have to face: Hamburg has become a testing area for electronic patient records, but numerous doctors report problems in dealing with them. These inadequacies could further strain trust in medical care.

The topic of IGeL is complex and multi-layered. It shows how important it is that patients are well informed in order to make the right decisions for their health. This also involves constant dialogue between doctors and patients in order to find the best possible treatment approaches without relying solely on additional services that do not always bring the desired benefit.

The developments surrounding the IGeL and the ongoing studies at the University of Hamburg are being followed with excitement - not only in the Hanseatic city, but also far beyond. It remains to be seen whether the results will be reflected in practice and what measures will be taken to improve the situation.