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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 Although prescription medications can help relieve the symptoms of GERD, studies have shown that some patients are still not satisfied with their treatment. In fact, at least one-third of people taking any medication for chronic reflux remain unsatisfied with their treatment. This is particularly true for those taking over-the-counter medicines, Bytzer noted.
Abreu agreed that even PPIs don't work for everyone. There are a range of conditions all classified as GERD and while it is that true GERD responds well to these medications, other forms of heartburn don't, she said.
The doctor-patient relationship was key, the experts said. If a doctor took their condition seriously and conducted a thorough examination, patients were more likely to say they were happy with their care. They were also more likely to be satisfied if they interacted well with their doctor, Bytzer reports.
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When doctors cannot resolve a medical problem they sometimes end up not taking the patient seriously, Abreu said. "They do not feel invested in the problem. They don't feel like they can really make it better," she said. And that can be a definite turn-off for patients. "People want to feel that at least you have taken it seriously," Abreu said.
In most cases, the doctor/patient relationship can be fixed, however.
"Of the various factors influencing patient satisfaction, the quality of patient/physician communication is probably the most amenable to improvement," Bytzer stated in the news release. "This can be done by using validated questionnaires to help physicians identify more effectively which symptoms patients have, and the impact of these symptoms on the patient's well-being," he added.
Medication and communication are not the only steps patients can take to improve their symptoms and quality of life, Abreu said.
"There is a lot of stuff related to heartburn that can be changed with lifestyle," she said. "For example, not eating a big meal before going to bed. But patients are reluctant to change lifestyle -- they would rather just take medicine."
More information
For more information on GERD, visit the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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