TY - JOUR T1 - Self-rated health in general practice: a plea for subjectivity JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 110 LP - 111 DO - 10.3399/bjgp15X683833 VL - 65 IS - 632 AU - Göran Waller Y1 - 2015/03/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/65/632/110.abstract N2 - I think many GPs with some experience recognise that a major problem in medical practice is not always the medical problem in itself. It is the subjective side of the matter, the patient’s ideas, and possibilities of handling the situation of illness, disease, and functional impairment that are the challenges. None of this was focused on in my medical training and continuous medical education. However, there is now a solid mass of research emphasising the importance of the patient’s subjective side of the matter. Paying attention to the patient’s own assessment of health is important not only as a sign of interest and empathy; it can also be crucial in assessing prognosis, guide consultations to important questions, and guide efforts in handling diseases. All these are lessons learned from research on self-rated health. GPs can confidently use and adopt this research in clinical encounters and clinical research.OutcomesOutcomes such as mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung disease, arthritis, functional impairment, depression, and developing diabetes type 2 and its prognosis are associated to self-rated health.1–3Better than doctors’ ratingsSelf-rated health is a better predictor of future health (good health assessed as no symptoms of disease or minimal impairment if symptoms present) than doctors’ ratings.4 It also adds information beyond a doctor’s ordinary clinical evaluation.1,5ComprehensiveThere are innumerable factors affecting patients’ health. Self-rated health is a comprehensive way to assess the patient’s situation.1 Self-rated health can guide doctors and their patients in … ER -