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Sometimes I ask my doctor about improvements in medical care that I've read about in the newspaper or seen on TV. He doesn't seem to know about most of these things. If my doctor hasn't heard about them, are they even worth finding out about them or trying them myself?

You are seeing first hand the breakdown of an idea called knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer is the process of getting information about advancements in treatment to the physician. This type of information transfer isn't always easy. Experts say it takes 12 to 16 years for a proven effective treatment to be put into clinical practice.

Many physicians still practice based on a fixed belief system rather than based on evidence from research. A recent study in Canada on the treatment of low back pain (LBP) showed that even when given proven Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for acute LBP, most doctors ignored the information and conducted "practice as usual".

In Canada where they have nationalized medicine, doctors may not get paid if they don't follow accepted CPGs. In the United States, this type of "policing" health care is less likely to happen. Like you, consumers have become their own patient advocate by trying to find out what treatment might work and asking about it.

Before asking your doctor about something knew you've heard about, try to find out as much as you can. Bring that information with you to your appointment. Even if your doctor hasn't heard about it, reviewing the material together can help the physician see if there's any merit to the idea for you.

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