Should Physicians Disclose Their Own Health Challenges? Perspectives of Patients With Chronic Pain

Abstract

This study explores how patients with chronic pain view the impact of physician self-disclosure on the patient–physician relationship. We conducted mixed-methods analyses of a cross-sectional survey eliciting experiences and attitudes regarding physician self-disclosure among 934 adults with self-reported chronic pain. Patients with chronic pain commonly recalled experiences of physician self-disclosure, most often “small talk” or physicians’ disclosure of their own chronic pain. Patients generally rated these experiences to be beneficial. Patients frequently said they would benefit from seeing a physician who has had chronic pain, or that they would want their physician to self-disclose their own chronic pain. Those who had never experienced self-disclosure were more likely to want their physician to self-disclose their own chronic pain. Nonetheless, patients held varying perspectives toward the advantages and disadvantages of physician self-disclosure, believing that self-disclosure could either positively or negatively impact the patient–physician relationship and care and communication.