Self-rated health in general practice: A plea for subjectivity

Abstract

GPs meet patients and the patient's assessment of their own health. The doctor's job is to understand and deal with this assessment. Is there a disease that can be treated or alleviated? Is there something else that the patient or doctor can do? Can something be done to maintain and strengthen a good subjective health? To disregard the patient's subjective view of health is equal to not using the most valuable piece of information there is. In some consultations, when appropriate, a question of self-rated health can be posed. There is a massive scientific base for the usefulness of self-rated health.