Findings from a nationwide survey suggest many patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease rarely discuss their conditions with a healthcare provider, pointing to the increasing need for dialogue between physicians and patients, according to a news release.
Survey responses from more than 1,000 Americans who experience GERD or other heartburn symptoms showed more than half "occasionally" (39 percent) or "never" (19 percent) discuss GERD or heartburn symptoms with a physician. The survey also showed one-third (34 percent) of sufferers wait 12 months or more after first experiencing symptoms to visit their healthcare provider. When individuals do see their healthcare providers, one in five sufferers (22 percent) does not discuss their symptoms until the end of the appointment when the physician is leaving or only if the physician asks.
Many sufferers also expressed interest in tools to help communicate concerns about their condition to healthcare providers, such as a symptom checklist to be filled out prior to their appointment (52 percent) or a list of questions to ask their healthcare provider (50 percent).
Read the news release about communication between GERD and heartburn patients and physicians.
Read other coverage about GERD:
- Surgeons Use Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication to Treat GERD
- SAGES Issues New Practice Guidelines That Includes RFA for Treatment of GERD
- 2010 Medicare Reimbursement Rates of 5 GERD-Related Endoscopy Procedures
Survey responses from more than 1,000 Americans who experience GERD or other heartburn symptoms showed more than half "occasionally" (39 percent) or "never" (19 percent) discuss GERD or heartburn symptoms with a physician. The survey also showed one-third (34 percent) of sufferers wait 12 months or more after first experiencing symptoms to visit their healthcare provider. When individuals do see their healthcare providers, one in five sufferers (22 percent) does not discuss their symptoms until the end of the appointment when the physician is leaving or only if the physician asks.
Many sufferers also expressed interest in tools to help communicate concerns about their condition to healthcare providers, such as a symptom checklist to be filled out prior to their appointment (52 percent) or a list of questions to ask their healthcare provider (50 percent).
Read the news release about communication between GERD and heartburn patients and physicians.
Read other coverage about GERD:
- Surgeons Use Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication to Treat GERD
- SAGES Issues New Practice Guidelines That Includes RFA for Treatment of GERD
- 2010 Medicare Reimbursement Rates of 5 GERD-Related Endoscopy Procedures