This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Edwards, A. Articles by Elwyn, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Edwards, A. Articles by Elwyn, G. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

How Should Effectiveness of Risk Communication to Aid Patients' Decisions Be Judged?

A Review of the Literature

Glyn Elwyn, MRCGP

Risk-communication interventions are associated with benefits at both the individual and the public health level. However, the types of outcomes used to assess the effec tiveness of risk-communication interventions vary greatly. This makes synthesis of the research in systematic review difficult, and limits both the implementation of advances in clinical practice and further research. This article reviews the outcomes used in risk- communication publications, particularly those addressing individual decisions about treatment. From the traditional cognitive and behavioral research outcomes of patient knowledge, risk perception, and compliance, the emphasis has shifted towards more affective outcomes, including satisfaction, assessment of the information provided and the decision-making process, and certainty about whether the best option has been chosen. These affective outcomes may be more specific and sensitive measures for risk-communication research. Further development and validation of measurement scales to address these issues is needed. Key words: risk communication; physician- patient communication; outcome assessment; affective outcomes. (Med Decis Making 1999;19:428-434)

Medical Decision Making, Vol. 19, No. 4, 428-434 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/0272989X9901900411


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. M. Lipkus Numeric, Verbal, and Visual Formats of Conveying Health Risks: Suggested Best Practices and Future Recommendations Med Decis Making, October 1, 2007; 27(5): 696 - 713. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A Edwards, G Elwyn, K Hood, C Atwell, M Robling, H Houston, P Kinnersley, I Russell, and the Study Steering Group Patient-based outcome results from a cluster randomized trial of shared decision making skill development and use of risk communication aids in general practice Fam. Pract., August 1, 2004; 21(4): 347 - 354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Edwards, S. Unigwe, G. Elwyn, and K. Hood Effects of communicating individual risks in screening programmes: Cochrane systematic review BMJ, September 27, 2003; 327(7417): 703 - 709. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Wensing and G Elwyn Research on patients' views in the evaluation and improvement of quality of care Qual. Saf. Health Care, June 1, 2002; 11(2): 153 - 157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Barry Health Decision Aids To Facilitate Shared Decision Making in Office Practice Ann Intern Med, January 15, 2002; 136(2): 127 - 135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Bowling and S Ebrahim Measuring patients' preferences for treatment and perceptions of risk Qual. Saf. Health Care, September 1, 2001; 10(90001): i2 - 8. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Edwards and G Elwyn Understanding risk and lessons for clinical risk communication about treatment preferences Qual. Saf. Health Care, September 1, 2001; 10(90001): i9 - 13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. O'Connor A Call to Standardize Measures for Judging the Efficacy of Interventions to Aid Patients' Decision Making Med Decis Making, October 1, 1999; 19(4): 504 - 505. [PDF]