Communication of information about therapeutic alternatives: end-stage renal disease model

We analyzed data from questionnaires obtained from 59 patients with end-stage renal disease and nine nephrologists and transplant surgeons to determine outcome of transplantation and dialysis (probability estimates) and the relative advantages of these two treatments (attitudinal responses). Data from national and local studies were available for comparison with the probability estimates. Results indicate that although personal experience with transplantation can bias a patient's estimate of treatment outcome, neither physicians nor patients had a bias toward optimism. Attitudinal responses were similar for patients and physicians, suggesting that physicians communicate personal views more easily than information. Results suggest that shortcomings in information processing need not make informed consent procedures invalid.