The continuous efforts to let the public know what Family Medicine is about

Donald K T Li 李國楝

Dear Editor

The publicity campaign initiated by the Tung Wah Well Men Clinic not only serves as a timely reminder for middle aged men to focus more on their health but also a reminder for everyone to be responsible for their own health regardless of their age. Family Doctors place emphasis on anticipatory and preventive care and seize every opportunity during a consultation to remind their patients to monitor their health through check ups. Family Doctors however place more emphasis on provoking the continuous awareness and health monitoring by patients themselves - e.g. watching one's weight changes, appetite, sleep patterns and unusual bowel and urinary habits. Health check ups do not always have to consist of "high tech" imaging, blood tests, scans, etc. The value is in the consultation process whereby there is review by the doctor of the individual's general physical and psychological well-being as well as his concerns, his lifestyle, smoking and drinking habits, exercise and occupational risks. Check ups should be tailor-made and not limited to fixed "packages" consisting of standard items. A check up is also the establishment of an ongoing trusting doctor-patient relationship and health awareness that will encourage men (and for that matter, women) of all ages to become responsible for their health and be keen to voluntarily ask for annual / bi-annual health review by their family doctors. Nonetheless, there remains an important message after the check up - that is, not to go away with a false sense of security. The test results reflect the state of health of the individual at that particular point in time. The body can undergo changes rapidly so there needs to be comprehensive, continuous, holistic care - care that can be offered by their Family Doctor.

Donald K T Li
6/F Hing Wai Building
36 Queen's Road, Central
Hong Kong
Tel: 25226744
Fax: 28684626