Wendy Levinson|Audiey Kao|Alma M. Kuby|Ronald A. Thisted
Not all patients want to participate in decision making
St. Michael's Hospital|University of Toronto|American Medical Association|National Opinion Research Center|University of Chicago|University of Chicago
background institute medicine calls physicians engage patients making clinical decisions every patient may want level participation objectives 1 assess public preferences participation decision making representative sample us population 2 understand demographic variables health status influence peoples preferences participation decision making design participants populationbased survey fully representative sample englishspeaking adults conducted concert 2002 general social survey n2765 respondents expressed preferences ranging patientdirected physiciandirected styles 3 aspects decision making seeking information discussing options making final decision logistic regression used assess relationships demographic variables health status preferences main results nearly respondents 96 preferred offered choices asked opinions contrast half respondents 52 preferred leave final decisions physicians 44 preferred rely physicians medical knowledge rather seeking information women educated healthier people likely prefer active role decision making africanamerican hispanic respondents likely prefer physicians make decisions preferences active role increased age 45 years declined conclusion populationbased study demonstrates people vary substantially preferences participation decision making physicians health care organizations assume patients wish participate clinical decision making must assess individual patient preferences tailor care accordingly