Danish GPs' perception of disease risk and benefit of prevention

被引:49
作者
Nexoe, J [1 ]
Gyrd-Hansen, D [1 ]
Kragstrup, J [1 ]
Kristiansen, IS [1 ]
Nielsen, JB [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ So Denmark, Inst Publ Hlth, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark
关键词
general practice; number needed to treat; risk-reducing;
D O I
10.1093/fampra/19.1.3
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
Background. Uncertainty and risk are central issues in relation to health and health care services. Healthy individuals do not necessarily fall ill, despite the presence of risk factors. It has been documented that doctors, health service administrators and patients are more inclined to choose interventions against risk factors when information about the effects is presented in terms of relative risk reductions rather than absolute risk reductions. Objectives. The objective of the study was to gain better insight into how GPs perceive risk of disease, and how this perception is influenced by the way the risk is presented, e.g. whether changes in risk are presented in absolute or relative terms. Methods.Questionnaires with clinical episodes were sent to 1500 Danish GPs. The GPs were randomized into four groups of 375, who all received the same case story with information about risk reduction achieved through medical treatment phrased in terms of either relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction, number needed to treat or all of the aforementioned terms of risk reduction. The GPs were asked whether they would recommend medical treatment as primary prevention, knowing the case story and expected risk reduction. Results. The GPs' attitude towards recommending medical treatment was dependent on the phrasing of risk reductions. Seventy-two per cent of doctors who received all information on risk reductions would definitely or probably recommend medication, while 91% would recommend medication if information only about relative risk reduction was given, and 63% would recommend medication if information was given in terms of absolute risk reduction or number needed to treat. Conclusion.In order to advise patients in a rational way, in addition to knowledge of the patients' preferences, doctors need to take into account all available measures of risk reductions.
引用
收藏
页码:3 / 6
页数:4
相关论文
共 14 条
[1]   COMPLETENESS OF REPORTING TRIAL RESULTS - EFFECT ON PHYSICIANS WILLINGNESS TO PRESCRIBE [J].
BOBBIO, M ;
DEMICHELIS, B ;
GIUSTETTO, G .
LANCET, 1994, 343 (8907) :1209-1211
[2]   THE NUMBER NEEDED TO TREAT - A CLINICALLY USEFUL MEASURE OF TREATMENT EFFECT [J].
COOK, RJ ;
SACKETT, DL .
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 1995, 310 (6977) :452-454
[3]  
Cranney M, 1996, BRIT J GEN PRACT, V46, P661
[4]   EVIDENCE BASED PURCHASING - UNDERSTANDING RESULTS OF CLINICAL-TRIALS AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS [J].
FAHEY, T ;
GRIFFITHS, S ;
PETERS, TJ .
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 1995, 311 (7012) :1056-1059
[5]   ABSOLUTELY RELATIVE - HOW RESEARCH RESULTS ARE SUMMARIZED CAN AFFECT TREATMENT DECISIONS [J].
FORROW, L ;
TAYLOR, WC ;
ARNOLD, RM .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, 1992, 92 (02) :121-124
[6]  
Hetlevik Irene, 1994, Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening, V114, P1709
[7]  
Hollnagel H, 1995, FAM PRACT, V12, P423
[8]   COMMUNICATING THE BENEFITS OF CHRONIC PREVENTIVE THERAPY - GOES THE FORMAT OF EFFICACY DATA DETERMINE PATIENTS ACCEPTANCE OF TREATMENT [J].
HUX, JE ;
NAYLOR, CD .
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING, 1995, 15 (02) :152-157
[9]  
JAESCHKE R, 1995, CAN MED ASSOC J, V152, P351
[10]  
Kristiansen I S, 1998, Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, V118, P2938