Back to basics – getting involved in public education

Abstract

Being a doctor nowadays is not a role which automatically raises one's status and brings one respect. Our treatment plans and advice are no longer accepted without discussion and/or often compromise. Our patients are now familiar with technical jargon and often come to appointments armed with the ‘latest research’ or up-to-date National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance, which can make such consultations feel more like flashbacks to the Part 2 clinical exam. With an increasingly informed and sometimes critical public regarding all aspects of health and medicine, it is imperative that we, as psychiatrists, are at the forefront of providing information about the illnesses and conditions we treat. Essentially, such information for the public must be easy to understand, accurate and unbiased.