Top 5 Social Issues Doctors Concern Most, According to New Medscape Report
Medscape, a specialized health information platform, has made a new report on Social problems that concern Spanish doctors among nearly a thousand doctors, belonging to different specialties, the data comes from an online survey carried out between May 31 and on August 15, 2022. Through the report, Medscape reveals what concerns Spanish doctors and the social problems with which they feel most sensitive.
With an initial proposal of seven social themes, the results clearly show the five main areas that concern doctors the most: 89% opted for access to health services, being very close to immigration policies (86%), the drug use (85%), gender violence (85%) and climate change (74%). In descending order, slightly more than 30% obtained reproductive rights (32%), followed by the rights of the LGTBIQ collective (29%) and other undefined problems (21%).
Regarding the personal sphere, a quarter consider climate change the issue that has most affected them or their family members (24%), followed by access to healthcare (22%) and drug and other substance abuse ( fifteen%).
On the other hand, more than half (51%) feel angry when they think about social problems and 55% have participated actively, helping to raise money or through donations.
"With this report, we have wanted to show the perception of doctors on issues that concern them, not only in the medical field, but also as active individuals in a society", said Dr. Javier Cotelo Vila, member of the Editorial Committee of Medscape in Spanish.
"Medical professionals are aware of the problems that affect the population, both in our country and globally, such as the climate, immigration or the rights of different groups, among others."
The report also includes the perception of professionals regarding health services, reaching 90% of doctors who have observed an increase in the waiting lists of their patients in the last five years, a percentage that is close to 100% (97% ) in physicians under 45 years of age. In addition, up to 77% consider that the quality of healthcare has decreased in the last five years and almost nine out of ten (88%) believe that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the worsening of that quality.
The report also shows that almost 80% have discussed these issues with their patients, compared to 15% who reflect not having done so. 54% indicate that commenting on these issues has not led to negative consequences, while 23% allege that they have had discussions with colleagues, finally, 19% have caused problems with superiors and 14% with patients. Here more than half of the respondents (52%) believe that professional medical organizations are not sufficiently involved in addressing social problems.
With regard to accessibility to health, opinion is very divided: 46% responded that the system is accessible to all, compared to 42% who opted for the opposite, although a high percentage (68%) consider that the current public healthcare system is the best model, followed by far (38%) by those who are in favor of a mixed public-private system. Only 1% are those who believe that the current health system should go to a totally private health.
The report reveals another series of conclusions:
• 65% agree that migrants / refugees receive health care regardless of the reasons for their migration and 55% do not believe that they are denied any rights.
• Regarding gender violence between colleagues, only 6% have reported a case, reaching 40% who have denounced a patient for this reason. Two out of three respondents consider that the actions carried out by the Government are acceptable.
• About drug and substance abuse, 55% are against its legalization, with 19% approving of it, although not automatically, and with almost half of those surveyed (48%) considering this problem important or very important among doctors. 46% think that the pandemic has increased substance abuse among medical professionals, although 52% think that this problem has remained the same.
• Climate change has achieved high unanimity as 85% consider it a priority for countries, 82% see it as a threat to humanity and up to 77% have responded that it negatively affects the health of patients.
• Regarding the rights of LGTBIQ groups, almost three quarters (72%) indicate that there are no differences regarding medical care and the vast majority (82%) consider that children under 12-15 years of age should not receive hormonal or surgical treatment without the consent of their fathers, mothers or guardians.
With reference to these results, Dr. Javier Cotelo Vila, has concluded: "It is interesting to underline that the social problems that most concern physicians are related to the deterioration of the quality of care, although they do not leave aside crucial issues that profoundly affect our society, such as immigration policies, drug use, gender violence and climate change, all of them reaching very high percentages in order of importance".
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About the survey Survey method. Physicians were invited to participate in an online survey.
Screening requirements.
Respondents had to be registered users of Medscape or Univadis and reside and practice medicine in Spain. Sample size. Total: 845 doctors from 35 different specialties.
Data collection period. From May 31 to August 15, 2022.
Sample error.
The margin of error for the responding physicians was ±3.37% at a 95% confidence level using a 50% point estimate.
About Medscape and WebMD
Medscape is the leading source of clinical news, health information, and point-of-care tools for healthcare professionals. Medscape offers specialists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals the most integrated medical information and educational tools. Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading website for continuing professional development, with more than 30 specialized resources offering thousands of free medical education courses and other educational programs for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Medscape and Medscape Education are part of WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company.
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