Abstract
BackgroundThere is a growing emphasis towards including patients in medical decision-making. However, not all patients are actively involved in such decisions. Research has so far focused mainly on the influence of patient characteristics on preferences for active involvement. However, it can be argued that a patient’s social context has to be taken into account as well, because social norms and resources affect behaviour. This study aims to examine the role of social resources, in the form of the availability of informational and emotional support, on the attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel (response 70 %; n = 1300) in June 2013. A regression model was then used to estimate the relation between medical and lay informational support and emotional support and the attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making.ResultsAvailability of emotional support is positively related to the attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making only in people with a low level of education, not in persons with a middle and high level of education. The latter have a more positive attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making, irrespective of the level of emotional support available. People with better access to medical informational support have a more positive attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making; but no significant association was found for lay informational support.ConclusionsThis study shows that social resources are associated with the attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making. Strategies aimed at increasing patient involvement have to address this.
Highlights
There is a growing emphasis towards including patients in medical decision-making
One-way analyses of variance showed that the attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making did not differ between the seven general practitioner (GP)
This study provides further insight into circumstances under which patients have a positive attitude towards taking an active role in medical decision-making
Summary
Not all patients are actively involved in such decisions. Research has so far focused mainly on the influence of patient characteristics on preferences for active involvement. As physicians control most of the medical decisions, professional judgements rather than collaborative decisions including patients’ own preferences often determine which treatment a patient receives ([1], p9). This paternalistic model, has come to be questioned in the past decades. Most patients prefer to be involved in medical decision-making [7]. Diagnosis, health status and characteristics of the patient affect whether patients prefer to be involved in decision-making [10]. Several studies consistently found that younger people, higher educated people, and women want, more often, an active role in decisionmaking [9, 10, 13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
