Medical tests: women's reported and preferred decision-making roles and preferences for information on benefits, side-effects and false results.
OBJECTIVE
To determine women's preferences for and reported experience with medical test decision-making.


METHODS
Computer-assisted telephone survey.


METHODS
Six hundred and fifty-two women resident in households randomly selected from the New South Wales electronic white pages.


METHODS
Reported and preferred test and treatment (for comparison) decision-making, satisfaction with and anxiety about information on false results and side-effects; and effect of anxiety on desire for such information.


RESULTS
Overall most women preferred to share test (94.6%) and treatment (91.2%) decision-making equally with their doctor, or to take a more active role, with only 5.4-8.9% reporting they wanted the doctor to make these decisions on their behalf. This pattern was consistent across all age groups. In general, women reported experiencing a decision-making role that was consistent with their preference. Women who had a usual doctor were more likely to report experiencing an active role in decision-making. More women reported receiving as much information as they wanted about the benefits of tests and treatment than about the side-effects of tests and treatment. Most women wanted information about the possibility of false test results (91.5%) and test side-effects (95.6%), but many reported the doctor never provided this information (false results = 40.0% and side-effects = 31.3%). A substantial proportion said this information would make them anxious (false results = 56.6% and side-effects = 43.1%), but reported they wanted the information anyway (false results = 77.6% and side-effects = 88.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Women prefer an active role in test and treatment decision-making. Many women reported receiving inadequate information. If so, this may jeopardize informed decision-making.
Davey
Heather M
HM
Screening and Test Evaluation Program, School of Public Health, Room 319A, Edward Ford Building, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia. daveyh@health.usyd.edu.au
Barratt
Alexandra L
AL
Davey
Elizabeth
E
Butow
Phyllis N
PN
Redman
Sally
S
Houssami
Nehmat
N
Salkeld
Glenn P
GP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007258:Informed Consent; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009517:New South Wales; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011897:Random Allocation