How Medical Professionals Can Inspire Sustainable Patient Change?
Medical doctors encounter patient resistance, non-compliance, and deeply ingrained beliefs on a daily basis. Yet, in medical schools, we train future physicians to treat an idealized patient—one who follows instructions perfectly, adheres to treatments without hesitation, and has no doubts about medical advice. But real patients are far from this textbook version. They arrive with personal experiences, emotions, cultural influences, and preconceived notions about their health. And we, as doctors, bring our own perspectives and biases, too. The challenge, then, is not just to prescribe treatment but to engage with patients in a way that shifts their mindset and empowers them to take meaningful steps toward their well-being. True change begins when we step into our patients’ world—understanding their fears, motivations, and underlying questions. When we do this, we accomplish half the work, and arguably, the hardest part. What if being a great doctor was not just about prescribing the la...