Getting the Truth: 3 Tips for When Patients Lie
Strategies for getting the truth to improve healthcare
“I’m absolutely taking my medication every day.”
“Nope. I don’t eat fried foods anymore.”
“I’m exercising three times a week just like you told me to.”
How often have you heard these statements — or something similar — during a clinic visit? But, when you look at lab results in the electronic health record, what you’re hearing and seeing don’t add up. Numbers don’t lie. But clearly, your patient does.
When your patient isn’t being straight with you, it’s harder to address their health needs and concerns. So, what do you do? Keep reading to learn why patients lie and a few tips to help you get to the truth.
How often do patients lie?
First, it’s important to know how often and why patients don’t always provide the whole truth. Don’t worry. If your patients aren’t forthcoming, you’re not alone. Between 60% and 80% of patients admit they’ve lied to their doctor about important health details. While they may conceal information about many issues, these are the most common:
- 46% lied about how much they smoke
- 43% lied about how much they exercise
- 38% lied about how much they drink
- 29% lied about how many sexual partners they have
It’s also common for patients to lie about whether they understand or agree with your advice or instructions. They may hold back the truth because they’re embarrassed or because they don’t want to be lectured or feel judged. To avoid this problem, be compassionate and empathetic when you ask questions and discuss these topics.
3 tips to handle patients who lie
Remember, in most cases, patients who don’t tell you everything aren’t trying to create problems or make your job harder. Still, treating a patient who lies to you is, at best, difficult. And it can also be extremely dangerous. So, you need to get to the truth. But of course, it can feel awkward to directly call someone out for being dishonest and doing so could make them defensive or combative.
To get your patient to open up and give you the information you need, try these strategies:
- Make a nonjudgmental comment: Calmly let your patient know their medical records or family members contradict the information they’re giving you. Let them know they have a choice about what information they provide, but incorrect information could lead to a misdiagnosis, a medication interaction or ineffective treatment. Remind them that you can’t give them the best care unless they’re honest.
- Tell them the consequences: Explain what may happen if you provide a treatment plan based on incorrect information. Let them know correcting a delayed treatment may be more aggressive, such as surgery or a stronger medication with more significant side effects. If the possible outcomes of their lying could be life-threatening or debilitating, say so.
- Sit silently: If you suspect a patient isn’t telling you the truth, or the whole truth, don’t respond immediately to what they’ve said. Instead, sit quietly for a few moments. Silence can motivate some patients to tell you the truth or clarify what they told you the first time. In these cases, you can simply continue with the rest of the appointment.
Honesty from your patients is critical, but remember, open communication is a two-way street. Do what you can to create an environment of trust from the very beginning. Maintain eye contact as much as possible and acknowledge that it can be tough for your patients to share personal information. If you preemptively thank them for their truthfulness and assure them their health data is private, your patients may be more forthcoming with the details you need to provide high-quality care.
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