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[Which side effects should I inform patients about?]
M O Reumerman1,2, E P van Puijenbroek3, J M Janson4
1Amsterdam UMC, locatie VUmc, afd. Interne Geneeskunde.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|August 7, 2020
Summary
Healthcare providers should inform patients about crucial medication side effects, focusing on those impacting quality of life or requiring timely recognition to prevent harm. Regular monitoring ensures safe and effective pharmacological treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Patient Safety
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Legal mandates require healthcare professionals to inform patients about potential side effects of new pharmacological treatments.
- Detailed side effect information can be counterproductive due to time constraints, fear of the nocebo effect, and patient/prescriber preferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define an optimal strategy for informing patients about medication side effects.
- To balance legal requirements with practical considerations in patient communication.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on patient communication regarding side effects.
- Analysis of factors influencing the disclosure of pharmacological treatment risks.
- Development of a risk-benefit communication framework.
Main Results:
- Prescribers should prioritize informing patients about common, quality-of-life impacting side effects.
- Emphasis should be placed on side effects necessitating prompt recognition to avert further health damage.
- Regular patient monitoring for efficacy and adverse events is crucial.
Conclusions:
- A targeted approach to side effect communication is more effective than exhaustive disclosure.
- Effective patient monitoring allows for timely adjustments to pharmacological therapy, optimizing outcomes.
- Balancing information disclosure with patient well-being and treatment efficacy is key.
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