Technological advances have benefitted mankind in all spheres of life. Advances in the medical field have made earlier diagnosis, better understanding of disease processes and wider choice of treatment possible. Some approaches to management of disease have changed drastically because of advanced in knowledge. For example, gastric ulcers are treated mainly by medication and not surgery after H.pylori was discovered Large abdominal incisions are no longer needed to operate on visceral organs. Acute leukemias are now curable. Non- communicable diseases have gained importance over infectious diseases. Vaccines have been developed for a growing number of conditions.
However, the extremely rapid advances, explosion of knowledge (it is popularly believed that it only takes 63 days for all the knowledge in the world to double) and higher costs of healthcare have necessitated critical review of choices. This is even more challenging with the advent of AI. Its rapid infiltration into social media which now features fake news with fake pictures and fake voice- overs is disturbing. More subtle are the ” knowledge sharing” by numerous ‘”experts” delivering questionable information. The public can easily be swayed by false claims and false information. Doctors are now faced with the duty to give correct and timely health education in addition to treating and preventing disease.
Educators all over the world are reporting a trend of over- reliance on diagnostic tools, with clinical acumen taking a back seat. More sophisticated diagnostic tools are costly, and over – investigation puts a financial burden on the patients. The trend of ordering multiple tests is probably partially due to doctors’ fear of litigation. Over- treatment is also a knee- jerk reaction to the emerging climate of litigation even in Myanmar.
” Patient- centred care” is a popular phrase in the 21 st Century. We owe it to our patients to make healthcare efficient,relevant and affordable (as far as possible).
The roles of doctors has also changed in the past decade. Patients have already surfed the net (or chatted with AI) before seeing their doctor, and already have an opinion on the diagnosis and treatment options. Whilst patients with sharper intellect would accept reasonable explanations, some might stick stubbornly to their misinformed opinions. Patience, tact and effective communication are essential in dealing with such patients.
Thus, doctors of today should have the skills of critical thinking, effective communication and patience. They need the wisdom to utilize technological advances wisely and effectively.
