Do patients want to be involved in treatment decisions

Abstract

In recent years, the increased accessibility to information has resulted in patients and their relatives becoming more familiar with medical issues and perhaps desiring a more prominent role in treatment decisions. A study of the extent of involvement that orthopaedic patients wanted in decisions regarding their treatment showed that the majority (84%) wanted significant decisions regarding their treatment to rest with their attending doctor. Whether this is characteristic when an individual assumes the sick role or a result of being inadequately informed remains to be determined.