Why don't patients disclose their chronic illnesses?

As dental care professionals, we rely on our patients accurately disclosing their medical history so that we can treat them safely and effectively. However, not all patients do this and research has revealed that significant discrepancies exist between an individual's self-disclosed medical history and their actual health status.

But why do some patients do this? Some studies have suggested that the stigma associated with conditions, such as HIV, can influence individual's willingness to disclose their medical history. They may fear a negative reaction from the dental team, feel embarrassment or fear wider disclosure as a result of confidentiality issues. However, if this is the case, why do up to 22% of diabetes sufferers also not self-report their medical history considering this is a relatively low stigmatising disease?