Doctors ignore potent ways to improve patient health: NEJM Study

Washington: Leveraging existing relationships with friends and family may be a more effective way to improve patients' health and encourage new healthy habits and behaviors than increasing interactions with physicians or other clinicians, scientists say.

In a new study, researchers suggest a five-step ladder to effectively engineering social engagements that promote health and to test their acceptability and effectiveness.

"Spouses and friends are more likely to be around patients when they are making decisions that affect their health - like taking a walk versus watching TV, or what to order at a restaurant," said David Asch, professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the US.

"Patients are also more likely to adopt healthy behaviors - like going to the gym - when they can go with a friend," Asch said.

"Though people are more heavily influenced by those around them every day than they are by doctors and nurses they interact with only occasionally, these cost-free interactions remain largely untapped when engineering social incentives for health. That's a missed opportunity," he said.