It is important to note that the general perception of risk by the patients is often overlooked despite the fact that it is critical for their treatment. The focus of the investigative analysis showcases how patients tend to underestimate the impact of some risk factors making it vital for patients to have their perceived risks correlated with actual risks. Therefore, one needs to be aware that disassociation between these two types of risks plays a significant role in the patient treatment process.
Since the assessment already showed how understanding patients’ perception of the risk factors is of paramount relevance, the given response is to expand on it with respect to treatment adherence. Medication adherence massively impacts the clinical outcomes among patients since drugs play a significant role in the overall success of treatment. The problem is primarily rooted in an incorrect perception of actual risks. A study found that African Americans tend to show lower adherence due to side effect concerns, illness perception, and access to drugs (Shiyanbola et al., 2018). The illness perception is an indicator of poor risk perception by the patients, and it hurts the minority groups the most. Patient education was identified to be the most effective way to improve health literacy among minority groups, but it requires cultural competence-based approaches to harness trust.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the greater the difference between actual and perceived risks, the less effective a treatment outcome will likely be. Understanding the overall disparity between patients’ perception of the risks and actual ones not only leads to worse clinical outcomes but contributes to health inequity as well. Health illiteracy, cultural barriers, and noncompliance are prime focus areas, especially among minority populations.
References
Shiyanbola, O. O., Brown, C. M., & Ward, E. C. (2018). “I did not want to take that medicine”: African-Americans’ reasons for diabetes medication nonadherence and perceived solutions for enhancing adherence. Patient Preference and Adherence, 12, 409-421.