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Helping patients decide: ten steps to better risk communication
Angela Fagerlin1, Brian J Zikmund-Fisher, Peter A Ubel
1Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, 300 North Ingalls St, Rm 7C27, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5429, USA. fagerlin@umich.edu
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|September 21, 2011
Summary
Improving patient understanding of medical risks and benefits is crucial for informed decision-making. This study presents 10 evidence-based methods to enhance comprehension, aiding patients in navigating complex health choices.
Area of Science:
- Health Communication
- Medical Decision Making
- Patient Education
Background:
- Patients frequently face complex health decisions regarding cancer screening, prevention, and treatment.
- Low numeracy skills exacerbate cognitive difficulties when interpreting risk statistics.
- Effective communication of risk and benefit information is essential for informed medical choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify empirically validated methods for improving patient understanding of medical risk and benefit information.
- To enhance patients' ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
- To provide actionable recommendations for healthcare providers and educators.
Main Methods:
- Review and highlight 10 empirically supported methods to improve risk and benefit comprehension.
- Focus on strategies such as presenting absolute risks using frequencies and plain language.
- Analyze methods that clarify treatment impact on baseline risk levels.
Main Results:
- Ten methods were identified that demonstrably improve patient understanding of risk and benefit data.
- Strategies include using absolute risks, frequency formats, and plain language.
- Effective communication aids in comparing risks and benefits of various medical options.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers and educators can significantly improve patient decision-making.
- Implementing strategies like plain language, pictographs, and absolute risks enhances understanding.
- Better communication empowers patients to make more informed health choices.
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