Behavioral sciences explains both patient behavior and physician behavior and location, especially access to care from both perspectives.  The physician works in a cultural context, and must have sensitivity to cultural differences among patients, as well as understanding his/her own beliefs and culture.

Medicine usually is focused on illness or the cases that are not normal. If doctors only see such cases, they are unlikely to build a representation of the distribution of normal behavior for a given kind. For example, I and my then graduate students attended a lecture where medical students were shown what doctors presented as examples of 2-yr-old children acting out. We had spent a lot of time in 2-yr-old preschool classes and could see that the children shown were NORMAL for their age. So, there was no reason to prescribe therapy or drugs.  Drugs could actually produce abnormal development!

There are many other examples of where knowing about the range of expected variation in a set of behaviors can alter a diagnosis. So, the bottom line. It is important to know what scientists have found about a given class of behaviors. 

Thank you so much for your expert opinions. It did shed more insights on certain salient points I wanted addressed. 

Regards,

Hakeem 

You are welcome.

There are three sets of answers to this question:

1. How will behavioral sciences help you make money as a physician?

Patients are interested in having a doctor that can relate to them. Behavioral Sciences help you understand the doctor patient relationship and its impact on the patient and your practice.

2. Most of the diseases we treat are behavioral in nature. It is extremely important for clinicians to know how to help people change their behavior. Motivational Enhancement Therapy techniques are key.

3. What about psychiatrists? Should they be experts in behavior as well as pharmacology? Yes they should. Due to short sighted financial interests psychiatrists have lost the lead in mental health care delivery. They will soon find themselves hired pill pushers if they lack the capacity to be well rounded clinicians,

In relation to dental school which is transferable to medical school; behavioural science encompassed the relationships with patients and families as well as between peers. This included methods of managing phobic patients (integral to general dentistry) and role-modelling behaviours forming part of professionalism. So impact will be individual, community and on the profession as a whole.

I used to be more concentrated to ethical questions but anyway: I understand Behavioral science's impact  for being aware of both perspectives - medical doctors concern, intention and  behavior and the same for patient, his/her family, the whole community  and region from the point of view of care and health.

Some patients refuse to take prescribed medications urgently needed, for example, medication to bring down  very high blood pressure. Teaching medical students  behavioral communication techniques, such as active/ reflective listening, can help. , HOW to communicate respectfully and sincerely y with patients and how to soothe an upset, angry ,or belligerent  patient with calming words, how to acknowledge fears and worries   of patients  - these behavioral skills , can all lead to a patient  accepting more a  doctor's recommendations and   also lead to a patient following through more completely a  doctor's advice.