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Patients want to know

Less advice, more explanations! Many patients expect healthcare professionals to help them develop their skills so they can take an active part in making decisions affecting their health.

What are patients' expectations of primary healthcare professionals? Two French studies published in 2011 give a good idea.

A multidisciplinary research team investigating primary healthcare studied patients' main concerns relating to general medicine, based on a broad sample of 65 respondents.

According to this study, the most important aspects of care involve the doctor-patient relationship: obtaining information on the health problem and its treatment; the doctor's knowledge of the patient's medical history; the doctor's willingness to listen; clear explanations. The authors of the study state that these findings bear out those of a study carried out in several European countries involving 3540 patients: patients want to play an active role, share in the medical decision-making, understand their condition and be more autonomous.

Patients seem to have high expectations of doctors when it comes to providing information and helping them become proficient. However, a study conducted among doctors reveals that when treating patients suffering from a chronic disease they prefer to have an advisory role, providing information that will encourage patients to comply with their treatment, rather than enable them to acquire the knowledge that will make them more self-reliant and improve their quality of life.

Patients appear to want more information than advice. Healthcare professionals take note.

©Prescrire 1 February 2012

"Patients want to know" Prescrire Int 2012; 21 (124): 32. (Pdf, free).
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