- A new study finds that most people lie to health professionals.
- Lifestyle habits are what people are most likely to be dishonest about.
- Gen Zers topped the chart as the generation that is telling more lies to health professionals.
There is something about being in the doctor’s office that ignites the need to lie and hide the truth.
according to one to study Of more than 1,000 patients, 77% admitted to lying about their health, either directly or by omission, when interacting with a healthcare professional.
And certain generations tend to lie more than others.
Gen Zers led the way, with 93% admitting to lying to healthcare professionals, especially about their sexual histories.
“Gen Zers are so nervous when they go to the doctor for fear of being judged,” Dr. Eric Ascherfamily medicine doctor at Lenox Hill Hospital, he told Healthline.
Next in line for being dishonest were:
- Millennials (76%)
- Generation X (75%)
- Baby Boomers (69%)
Interestingly, each generation lied about different things.
Millennials were more likely to lie about their exercise habits. This may be due to the fact that this generation grew up in a time when going to exercise facilities became popular, Ascher said.
“Exercising became fashionable instead of just being healthy. People have always been weight conscious, but this group is the most embarrassed,” she said.
Members of Generation X tended to be dishonest about their drinking, while Baby Boomers told more lies about their eating habits.
Sometimes this is because people underestimate or fake their use to avoid awkward conversations, he said. melissa murpheyDNP, APRN and Nurse Practitioner in Chicago.
“They may also lack the confidence to disclose their vulnerabilities or may underestimate the negative impacts associated with certain risky behaviors,” he told Healthline.
Fear of judgment was the main reason respondents said they lie to health professionals. Other reasons were:
- Shame
- Shame
- Feeling judged by a previous medical professional
- Denial and evasion of the truth.
- Fear of insurance records
These reasons did not surprise Ascher.
“Patients are embarrassed or often wait until the end of the visit or the next visit to open up to their provider once they feel comfortable in the doctor-patient relationship,” he said.
Murphy agreed. She said many patients need to develop a relationship with their doctor before revealing personal information.
“[Still,] it is disappointing that people risk their health care outcomes because of [this.]. Healthcare professionals, regardless of their position, must be very diligent in helping to establish a comfortable relationship as quickly as possible with their patients.”
Of the 23% of patients who were completely honest with their health care providers, 64% said they didn’t always feel heard.
“If you don’t feel heard, that’s probably not the provider for you. You should always feel heard and not rushed when seeing your doctor,” Ascher said.
In general, patients were more likely to be dishonest with providers in telehealth settings.
“Often during the pandemic, patients have sought telehealth in situations where they need urgent care or are meeting a provider for the first time. The patient likely did not have a relationship with the provider, which likely led to the lie,” Ascher said. “My returning patients using telehealth are not likely to lie because we’ve already broken the ice.”
Because telehealth provides access to many people who are limited by transportation restrictions or other logical factors, Murphey said these visits should still be an option. However, if in-person visits with a health care provider are possible, he said it’s still the best option.
“Remote setup can provide some psychological distance between patient and doctor,” he said.
While practitioners need to be more vigilant in creating a genuine relationship during patient interaction, patients may try to treat telehealth visits like in-person visits.
During medical visits, Ascher said people don’t want their provider to “guide parenting” on information they already know. For example, he said most patients know that excessive alcohol, takeout, limited exercise, and not eating a lot of vegetables are not ideal, but he has yet to ask about these habits.
“I’m not asking these questions to make patients feel less human; I ask to see if there is any advice I can offer and, more importantly, if there is any reason I should order additional blood work or if medication is warranted. [and] what to stay away from,” he said.
Collecting the information may also allow you to better match symptoms with suggestions for lifestyle changes.
For example, if a person sees you for acid reflux but rounds down their alcohol consumption, they may not be able to offer you the appropriate counseling or testing.
If someone notifies you that they are sad, depressed, anxious, or having trouble concentrating and sleeping, but round down their alcohol consumption, you may not be able to offer suggestions that can make a difference.
If someone has multiple sexual partners, there are testing routines and medications you might recommend to help keep them healthy.
“I never ask patients personal questions to be nosy or nosy, and we ask a lot of questions on your first visit, but this allows me to tailor the right care for you, to keep you healthy,” Ascher said.
As providers ask these questions, Murphey noted that they are trained to consider a patient’s mental well-being and respect their emotional vulnerability.
“We want our patients to be successful in achieving their health care goals, and understanding the big picture gives us the information we need to develop our plan of care,” he said.
If you’re afraid to share information out of embarrassment, Ascher said health care providers have heard and seen it all. “Nothing is ‘TMI’. We were trained for this. A good doctor will tailor the care they give you so that you feel seen and heard,” he said.
Finding that doctor should be your prerogative, he added. If you feel judged by your provider and don’t feel comfortable being open and honest with him, then the relationship isn’t working and his health is at risk.
“Sometimes finding a good primary care provider is like dating. You have to find one that you connect with,” Ascher said.
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