Why Doesn't Your Doctor Talk About Home Medical Devices?

Limitations of medical education

Let’s start with the basics: medical training. A doctor spends six years at university and then additional years in specialist training. During that time they absorb a huge amount of knowledge — from anatomy through pathology to pharmacology.

But what do they learn about home medical devices? The answer is simple: almost nothing.

In Hungarian medical education — and this is common internationally too — topics like electrotherapy, magnetotherapy and soft laser treatment appear at best in one or two lectures. The emphasis is on drug therapies and surgical interventions.

That's not accidental: modern medicine is built on pharmaceuticals and surgery. A medical student learns which painkiller to prescribe for back pain, when to refer a patient for surgery, and when physiotherapy is needed. But they do not learn how a home TENS device works, what parameters to set, and in which cases it might be an appropriate choice.

This is not the doctor's fault. They simply were not taught it.

The tyranny of time

Suppose there is a GP who has heard about home medical device options and is even interested in the subject. What can they do in daily practice?

International research shows that primary care physicians suffer from severe time constraints. A 2010 study across three countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, USA) found that doctors receive on average 6–18 minutes for a routine visit, while they feel much more time is necessary for quality care.¹

An average Hungarian GP sees 40–60 patients a day. If you calculate it, that means about 5–10 minutes per patient on average. In that time they must listen to complaints, examine the patient, establish a diagnosis, prescribe medications, and fill out paperwork.

Now imagine that in those 5–10 minutes they would also have to explain what TENS therapy is, how it works, which device to buy, and how to use it. That's simply impossible.

A 2024 American study revealed that primary care doctors are forced to make compromises: they sacrifice time for patient education, relationship-building and deeper understanding of problems because they simply do not have the capacity.²

The funding trap

There is a rarely stated but important aspect: money.

The Hungarian healthcare system is based on performance-based financing. Doctors are paid for what they can "bill" to the national insurance: examinations, procedures, prescriptions.

But do they receive anything for spending an hour explaining home therapeutic options to a patient? No, they do not.

It's not that doctors are money-hungry. Most doctors genuinely want to help. But they work in a system that does not reward — and in some respects even penalizes — innovative approaches that empower patients to manage their own care.

Information asymmetry

Think about it: a practicing doctor's information sources are heavily skewed. Where does a doctor learn about new therapeutic options? From professional conferences, continuing education, medical journals, and pharmaceutical representatives.

And who funds many of these? Largely the pharmaceutical industry.

This is not a conspiracy theory but an economic reality. Drug companies spend enormous sums on marketing, sales representatives, sponsored conferences and research.

In contrast, manufacturers of medical devices — especially those intended for home use — are often smaller companies with more modest marketing budgets. There is no medical device representative knocking on the clinic door. There are no sponsored conferences on the latest results in electrotherapy.

So the doctor simply does not encounter this information. They constantly hear about medicines, and almost never about medical devices.

The evidence question

Medicine — rightly — follows an evidence-based approach. That means a therapy is accepted only if good-quality clinical trials prove its effect.

The problem begins with which types of studies receive attention and funding. Developing a new drug costs billions of dollars, but for a pharmaceutical company this is a recoverable investment because a patented product can be sold exclusively for years.

By contrast, there is no such patent protection for an electrotherapy device. If a manufacturer proves that a given therapeutic method is effective, all other manufacturers benefit too. Therefore there is little business incentive to fund expensive large-scale clinical trials.

That doesn't mean there is no evidence. There is — many smaller and larger studies investigate the role of electrotherapy, magnetotherapy and soft laser treatments in various conditions. But these appear less often in high-prestige medical journals and are less integrated into medical training.

The power of conservatism

Medicine — and in many ways this is a virtue — is a conservative profession. It is cautious about novelties, clings to proven methods, and is skeptical of "miracle devices."

This skepticism usually protects against quackery. But it also has a downside: truly beneficial new approaches are adopted more slowly.

Electrotherapy, magnetotherapy and soft laser treatment are not new inventions — they have been used for decades. But the fact that these technologies have become suitable, affordable and safe for home use is a relatively recent development. The medical profession has not yet fully "processed" this change and incorporated it into routine practice.

The question of professional identity

There is a rarely voiced but important psychological factor. The core of a doctor's professional identity is that they are the healer. They hold the knowledge, make the diagnosis, and prescribe the treatment.

When a doctor tells a patient, "here's a device, from now on you can treat yourself," it in a sense challenges the traditional medical role.

The centuries-old pattern of the doctor-patient relationship is that the patient passively receives treatment. Involving the patient and encouraging self-management requires a paradigm shift — not only in the system but in how doctors think.

This change has already begun. More and more doctors recognize that active patient involvement is important in managing chronic diseases. Research supports this: a 2021 systematic review found that training healthcare professionals to support patient self-management can improve outcomes in chronic disease.³

What can you do?

Now that you understand the background, the question is: what can you do with this information?

Don't blame your doctor

They are also part of an overburdened system with limited time, limited information and limited room to act. Most doctors try to help to the best of their ability — they simply weren't taught about the options discussed here.

Be proactive

Inform yourself, read, ask questions. If you have chronic complaints and conventional treatments haven't brought a breakthrough, don't be afraid to raise alternatives with your doctor.

"Doctor, I've read about home electrotherapy — do you think it could help in my case?"

Most doctors are open to dialogue if the patient approaches the topic informed. They may not be able to give a definitive opinion — but at least a thought process can begin.

Seek specialists

There are doctors, physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals who specifically work with home medical technology. It's worth finding them and starting this path with their help.

If you've already decided and want to know which technology is suitable for what, here you'll find a guide to choosing →

Don't go to the other extreme

Home medical devices are not a miracle cure and do not replace medical care. You need a diagnosis, professional guidance and regular follow-up. Devices give you a tool — but you must use that tool wisely.

The change has already begun

It's important to see that the situation is changing. Slowly but surely. More doctors recognize the importance of home therapeutic devices. The international literature is expanding and evidence is accumulating.

The COVID pandemic paradoxically accelerated this process. When people could not visit clinics and hospitals, they were forced to look for home solutions. Doctors also realized that telemedicine and home therapies do not threaten but rather complement their work.

In Hungary there are already doctors, clinics and rehabilitation centers that actively recommend and support the use of home medical devices.

I wrote about the principles of healing — and why there's no single miracle method — in this article →

Your responsibility

Finally, let me say something that may be uncomfortable but important: you are primarily responsible for your health.

Not the doctor, not the healthcare system, not the state — you.

The doctor helps, advises and treats — but you make the everyday decisions. You decide what you eat, how you exercise, and how you manage stress. You can also decide whether to passively wait for the next appointment or actively work to improve your condition.

Home medical devices give you a tool for this. Not a magic wand, not a guarantee — a tool. The opportunity to be not only a sufferer of your illness but an active participant in the recovery process.

Summary – Quick overview

What is this article? An analysis of why the healthcare system, medical education and financing structure do not support broader dissemination of home medical devices.

Who is it for? For people with chronic conditions who want to understand why they don't hear about home therapeutic options from their doctor and what they can do about it.

Main message: Doctors do not withhold information about home medical technology out of malice. Due to system limitations — lack of time, gaps in education, financing structure, informational asymmetry — this knowledge simply does not reach them. Patients need to be proactive.

Key reasons doctors don't talk about it:

• Gaps in medical education: Electrotherapy and magnetotherapy barely appear in curricula
• Time constraints: 5–10 minutes per patient, no time for education
• Funding: The system doesn't reward patient education
• Information asymmetry: The pharmaceutical industry dominates information provision
• Conservatism: Medicine is cautious about novelties

Frequently asked questions:

Do doctors deliberately keep this information back?
No. Most doctors simply weren't taught it, and they lack time and motivation in daily practice to look into it.

Can I trust information found on the internet?
Be critical, seek reliable sources, and always consult your doctor before starting any new therapy.

How should I talk to my doctor about this?
Be informed and respectful. Ask specifically: “What do you think of this option in my case?”

Sources

1. Konrad TR, et al. (2010). It's about time: physicians' perceptions of time constraints in primary care medical practice in three national healthcare systems. Med Care. PubMed: 20057331
2. Nguyen OT, et al. (2024). Primary Care Physicians' Experiences With and Adaptations to Time Constraints. JAMA Netw Open. PubMed: 38687477
3. Collins C, et al. (2021). Does education of primary care professionals promote patient self-management and improve outcomes in chronic disease? An updated systematic review. BJGP Open. PubMed: 33712503
4. von dem Knesebeck O, et al. (2019). Perceptions of time constraints among primary care physicians in Germany. BMC Fam Pract. PMC: 6805618

The information in this article is for informational purposes. Home therapeutic devices are meant to complement medical treatment, not replace it. Consult your treating physician if you have complaints.