Formally Incorporating Family and Friends Medical Network in Treatment Protocols– A Conceptual Framework
Abstract (300 words maximum)
When confronted with complex medical decisions, patients often consult with their close friends and family, especially those who are medical professionals within that network. Such consultations are not formally incorporated in existing frameworks for treatment and care but play a central role in trust in physicians and adherence to recommended medications and treatments. The aims of this paper are, first, to discover how an individual’s family and friends’ medical network, with a focus on medical professionals such as physicians, can be incorporated into the care and management of the individual (patient). Second, creating a protocol/conceptual framework that can be integrated into individual patients’ Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is another reason for this inquiry. Furthermore, an examination of the possible benefits and an address of the ethical issues, conflicts, and challenges that may arise or can be encountered with incorporating a family or friend physician into a patient’s management will be considered in this paper. Practical considerations in integrating informal medical consultations into the formal management of the patient will also be highlighted. The present enquiry is intended to be achieved via a search through the available literature on patient engagement and patients’ health-seeking behaviors, especially as they seek medical advice or through informal consultations from friends and family members who are medical doctors or physicians. A conceptual framework will then be created and subsequently integrated into patient care. Future work will collect data to empirically validate the framework. Overall, this study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on patient care through its findings that will inform evidence-based practice and policy development.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CCOB - Information Systems and Securty
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Govind Hariharan
Formally Incorporating Family and Friends Medical Network in Treatment Protocols– A Conceptual Framework
When confronted with complex medical decisions, patients often consult with their close friends and family, especially those who are medical professionals within that network. Such consultations are not formally incorporated in existing frameworks for treatment and care but play a central role in trust in physicians and adherence to recommended medications and treatments. The aims of this paper are, first, to discover how an individual’s family and friends’ medical network, with a focus on medical professionals such as physicians, can be incorporated into the care and management of the individual (patient). Second, creating a protocol/conceptual framework that can be integrated into individual patients’ Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is another reason for this inquiry. Furthermore, an examination of the possible benefits and an address of the ethical issues, conflicts, and challenges that may arise or can be encountered with incorporating a family or friend physician into a patient’s management will be considered in this paper. Practical considerations in integrating informal medical consultations into the formal management of the patient will also be highlighted. The present enquiry is intended to be achieved via a search through the available literature on patient engagement and patients’ health-seeking behaviors, especially as they seek medical advice or through informal consultations from friends and family members who are medical doctors or physicians. A conceptual framework will then be created and subsequently integrated into patient care. Future work will collect data to empirically validate the framework. Overall, this study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on patient care through its findings that will inform evidence-based practice and policy development.