OBJECTIVE: To compare the attitudes of doctors and patients toward the disclosure of information after adverse medical events. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. SETTING: Ophthalmology department of an outer London hospital. SUBJECTS: 246 patients attending one ophthalmic outpatient clinic during a 5-week period and 48 ophthalmologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Proportion of each group who believed that patients should be informed about the occurrence of an adverse event and its potential future complications following elective ophthalmic surgery. RESULTS: Most patients (226/246, 91.8%) believed that a patient should be informed of an adverse event. Fewer ophthalmologists (29/48, 60.5%, P<0.001; odds ratio 7.4 [95% CI 3.7-14.3]) shared this belief. The majority of patients (200/246, 88.5%) believed that a patient should be as fully informed as possible about the event and possible future complications, but this belief was shared by a minority of ophthalmologists (16/48, 33.3%, P<0.001; odds ratio 8.7 [95% CI 4.7-15.9]). CONCLUSION: After an adverse medical event, there is a discrepancy between the amount of information that patients wish to be given and that which physicians feel is appropriate.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the attitudes of doctors and patients toward the disclosure of information after adverse medical events. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. SETTING: Ophthalmology department of an outer London hospital. SUBJECTS: 246 patients attending one ophthalmic outpatient clinic during a 5-week period and 48 ophthalmologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Proportion of each group who believed that patients should be informed about the occurrence of an adverse event and its potential future complications following elective ophthalmic surgery. RESULTS: Most patients (226/246, 91.8%) believed that a patient should be informed of an adverse event. Fewer ophthalmologists (29/48, 60.5%, P<0.001; odds ratio 7.4 [95% CI 3.7-14.3]) shared this belief. The majority of patients (200/246, 88.5%) believed that a patient should be as fully informed as possible about the event and possible future complications, but this belief was shared by a minority of ophthalmologists (16/48, 33.3%, P<0.001; odds ratio 8.7 [95% CI 4.7-15.9]). CONCLUSION: After an adverse medical event, there is a discrepancy between the amount of information that patients wish to be given and that which physicians feel is appropriate.
Authors: T A Brennan; L L Leape; N M Laird; L Hebert; A R Localio; A G Lawthers; J P Newhouse; P C Weiler; H H Hiatt Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1991-02-07 Impact factor: 91.245