“Stuff My Doctor Said” survey results brought to light what many of us experience in closed exam rooms.

  • "It's completely impossible for you to have another clot." Then he relented and scanned me: there was a pulmonary embolism.

    -Female patient, 19-29

  • “If you can’t hack it, talk to me again in six months.” This was after I told the doctor that I was depressed.

    Aaron, Male patient, 40-49

  • "It's just chronic pain and there is nothing that can be done. This is your new normal. "

    to a female patient, 40-49

  • When I was twelve I was a bit pudgy. My doctor told me that at the rate I was going I would "end up at 30 with no husband, no kids, and no one will love you." I will never forget those words.

    Female patient, 30-39

  • "You must not want to get better if you won’t get a hysterectomy"

    Internist to a female patient, 19-29

  • "If sex is painful, stop having sex"

    Female patient, 19-29

  • "You need to slow down your breathing!" But I had a collapsed lung with blood inside it. The nurse thought I was anxious because of menstrual pain. I sat in waiting room instead of being seen while my blood pressure fell to 60/40.

    Female patient, 30-39

  • "You should have a baby. That will cure it."

    Female patient, under 20

  • "Don't come back to this hospital unless you're coughing up blood, you're wasting our time"

    -Female patient with recurring lung collapses

  • “The good news is that you will one day have a massive heart attack and die”

    -Cardiologist to female patient, 30-39

  • "Unlike most, you are still fertile. Just have more babies to flush out the endometriosis!" (I'm 42 with a teenager!)

    OB/GYN to a female patient

  • "You should find yourself a nice husband to look after you when you are unwell." I never wanted to see another doctor again.

    -female patient, 40-49

  • "You've had every test under the sun and they're all NORMAL!" (I hadn't; another doctor found a serious condition that needed treatment.)

    -female patient, 30-39

  • "Are you sure you don't just have anxiety?"

    -general physician to female patient who later discovered that she was severely anemic

Survey Data

More than 100 participants from all over the United States submitted their communication experiences, revealing not just what healthcare providers said to them, but the specific impact it had on their lives, health outcomes, and sense of self.

Survey
”Stuff My Doctor Said”
Healthcare Communication Impact Survey

Collected
2020-2021

Takeaways

  • Relatively equal distribution of ages from 19-60+

  • Approximately 50% of all quotes provided were from specialist physicians, 30% from general practitioners, and the rest from a variety of medical support staff.

  • Over 80% said that the communication from their doctor had an extremely negative impact on their sense of self and willingness to seek future care.

  • Not all responses were negative! The positively affecting comments were just as surprising to the participants and had lasting impact.

Request Survey Results

*75 participants agreed to share anonymous answers in hopes of making a difference in doctor-patient communication.