The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7196 p624-625
4 May 2002

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Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice summary

Risk calculator helps patients make up their minds

A computer decision aid designed to help patients make up their minds about starting antihypertensive medication has been well-received by its users.

Marjorie Weiss (division of primary care, Bristol University) interviewed 15 of the patients taking part in the SHARE trial, which is comparing different methods of giving people risk information. Several people changed their minds about taking tablets for life after using the aid, which uses patients' risk factors and presents a series of gambles or choices between treatment and the risk of adverse events. Some were made more aware of the need to take tablets. Others became more confident that they did not need medication because their risk was low.