Understanding Realistic Medicine

Realistic Medicine is a way of providing healthcare that puts the person first. This ‘person-centred approach’ means the person receiving care is at the centre of decisions about their health.

In Realistic Medicine, the person and their healthcare team work together as partners. They make decisions together, agree a personalised approach to care, and avoid unnecessary tests or treatments.

How this works in practice:

• care focuses on the whole person and what matters to them, not just their illness
• there are open and honest conversations about needs, risks, and benefits
• patients and carers are supported to understand their choices and make informed decisions

This video (1 minute) explains Realistic Medicine.

You may not have heard the term “Realistic Medicine” before. But if you have ever helped someone find a health book, printed information from a trusted website, or shown someone how to find a local support group, you are already supporting it.

Public libraries are important partners in Realistic Medicine because:

• libraries are trusted places. People often feel more comfortable asking library staff questions. They can also use computers or Wi‑Fi to look for health information online.
• libraries support shared decisions. To take part in decisions about their care, people need reliable information. Library staff help them find this information.
• libraries offer privacy and safe spaces. Quiet areas and private study spaces allow people to look up sensitive health topics or join online support sessions. This can be the first step in taking control of their health.
• libraries connect people to local support. Libraries help people find local services, such as walking groups or money advice, that can improve everyday life. When this type of support is recommended by a healthcare professional it is called ‘social prescribing.’

Realistic Medicine is about giving people the healthcare that matters most to them.

It is based on six key ideas, called the ‘six pillars of Realistic Medicine’:

• Personalised care – care is shaped around the person and what matters to them
• Shared decision‑making – people and healthcare staff make decisions together
• Reducing harm and waste – avoiding tests or treatments that are not needed
• Managing risk better – thinking carefully about risks and benefits
• Making care more consistent for everyone – making sure everyone gets the right help, no matter where they live
• Improving and trying new ideas – learning what works and making care better

In this toolkit we are going to focus mostly on the first two, as these are the ones where libraries can help the most.

Have a look at the following introductory video on Realistic Medicine.

In the next module "Public libraries as partners in Realistic Medicine", you will learn how public libraries can support shared decision‑making and personalised care in everyday conversations with the public.