The Rise of Involved Healthcare Consumers

Patient-doctor relationships have historically been very hierarchical with doctors being the experts and patients heeding their advice. In more recent years, cultural shifts have resulted in a more collaborative relationship for many patients with their doctors. Pharmaceutical companies have also started placing more emphasis on the patient. Most brands are ensuring that they are not only developing materials for physicians but also for patients.

MD Analytics surveyed 1000 people in the US and 1000 in Canada to see how they are utilizing healthcare and how engaged they are in their own health. We are seeing evidence of patients engaging in their health more and more. In our survey we saw patients involved in treatment decisions, requesting specific treatments, and using social media to seek medical information. Roughly half of patients feel that they are part of treatment decisions – either making the final decision or making the decision jointly with their physician. In the US it is more common to say the physician presents options and leaves the final decision to the patient, whereas in Canada it is more common to make the decision jointly with the physician.