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Podcasts are Changing the Doctor-Patient Dynamic. Is That a Good Thing?
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Patients are increasingly using health podcasts to inform themselves and engage in more detailed conversations with doctors, reflecting a shift in the doctor-patient dynamic influenced by digital media.
- About half of U.S. adults under 50 turn to podcasters and online influencers for health information, with popular shows attracting millions of listeners.
- Podcasts provide patients with a sense of control over their health amid busy medical appointments and occasional distrust in traditional medical advice.
- Some doctors, like Dr. Dipesh Gopal, are embracing this trend by recommending vetted podcasts to patients as a supplemental educational tool.
- The case of Jenny Ip illustrates how patients can successfully advocate for additional testing and alternative treatments by leveraging information from health podcasts.
