When we talk about values-based medicine, it differs widely which values are important or necessary or both and how and who defines such values. With the question above, I want to showcase how many different values can play a role. Or maybe they are not so different and there are certain 'core' values which are the same for everyone.
I am looking forward to your answers.
Dear Marie-Caroline,
this is quite a interesting question. But I think the core value a GP needs are very different - so a doctor in a small village must have other qualifications than a doctor in a large city with thousands of doctors with very sophisticated specialities.
@TanjaKottmann: it sounds to me as if you refer to skills much more than to values in your answer. When taking about values I mean such things as empathy, compassion, altruism, trustworthiness, etc... The question is really about if we all have a common set of values on which to base decisions or if the differences are to wide to be reconciled? I have my own opinion about this which I am happy to share at some point. So far I do not want to influence the answers.
Dear Marie-Caroline,
ok, let´s talk about values like empathy, etc. Of course we all wish us professionals who are empathic and altruistic and so on, but in reality, GPs have only 5 minutes time per patient, otherwise he will go bancrupt. In Germany, the medical system is quite percuniary focused. Hence, it is quite difficult to focus on main demands for GPs. I think the most important demands are different in each patient.
Most important is empathy, understanding the patient's problems. You need to know his life, his mental attitudes. You need to know lifestyle counseling, combine complementer and official medicine. Much can be helpful if we understand the lifestyle problems.
Professional Ethics, Putting patient first, building a network of trusted specialists for referrals, these are the core values that I do expect from a GP.
Dear Tanja, I do agree with your assessment. However, so far my question is aimed at a theoretical approach. Since the advent of evidence-based medicine, alternatives to it have sprung up and one alternative is values-based medicine. I am a big proponent of EBM and have my doubts about VBM. But I want to explore the theoretical side a bit more before looking at the how and why of implementation in practice. "Time" for me, for example, is a value and a problem at the same time. Whereas I have to admit that often the five minutes the GP has for me are ok and mine takes longer if needed...it heavily depends on the GP, and maybe his/her sets of values as well ;-)
- What is important is, the GP MUST be current with medical knowledge and should not see the patient's complaints in GP's ethnocentric way but must see thru the eyes of the Patient Centered Cognition (and supportive family).
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