A role for the sick role: patient preferences regarding information and participation in clinical decision-making

摘要: OBJECTIVE: To assess whether patient preferences regarding information and participation in decision-making about treatment options are related to characteristics the context of decision. Other studies have compared patients with cancer healthy subjects, or different contexts among same group. This study combined these designs. DESIGN: Questionnaire completed by subjects. SETTING: Outpatient clinic a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample 55 treated at radiotherapy clinic, 53 persons accompanying them, visiting surgical outpatient for nonmalignant condition 36 them. MAIN MEASURES: Preferences general respect 4 vignettes that described diseases varying seriousness, side effects. RESULTS: Older men were more likely let physician make decisions their treatment. Patients, as nonpatients (their companions), prefer passive role decisions. No differences seen between conditions. Also, no effect was observed relation situations vignettes. Of who preferred information, substantial proportion still role. CONCLUSION: The lack strong predictors implies clinicians need every individually determine what he she prefers. finding than companions suggests "sick role" influences preference strongly type decision be made presence life-threatening disease. hypothesized shift subjects sick encouragement participate.