Patients overseas get greater say in treatment decisions
UK doctors are less likely to involve patients in choices about treatment
than their international counterparts, a study has found (PDF 750K).
Nearly 7,000 patients in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the
UK and the US were asked about their experiences of health care by the
Picker Institute, a charity that promotes understanding of patients’ perspectives
of health care. Only 43 per cent of UK respondents said that their regular
doctor involved them in treatment choices — less than in any of
the other countries, in which between 48 and 59 per cent of patients
said their doctor did so.
In addition, only 66 per cent of UK respondents said their regular doctor
gave them clear goals and a treatment plan, compared with 70–80
per cent in other countries, and UK respondents were less likely to say
their regular doctor gave them clear instructions on symptoms to watch
out for or on self-care on leaving hospital.
A major change is needed in the way health professionals work with patients
in the UK, the authors say.
“In particular, doctors, nurses and other health professionals
need training to promote health literacy, support self-care and self-management
and
involve patients in treatment decisions, and their effectiveness in this
regard should be monitored in regular patient surveys,” they
argue. “Patient engagement is a key component of the strategy to
keep future health care spending within manageable
limits,” they add. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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