Gender differences in health information needs and decisional preferences in patients recovering from an acute ischemic coronary event.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined gender differences in health information needs and decisional preferences after an acute ischemic coronary event (ICE).


METHODS
Patients with ICE, recruited in 12 coronary intensive care units, completed a questionnaire on demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial topics. Six and 12 months later, they completed mailed follow-up questionnaires.


RESULTS
Nine hundred six patients completed the baseline questionnaire, 541 (69%) completed the 6-month questionnaire, and 522 (64%) completed the 12-month questionnaire after hospital discharge. Men reported significantly more information received and greater satisfaction with healthcare practitioners meeting their information needs. Women wanted more information than men concerning angina and hypertension. Men wanted more information about sexual function and reported receiving more information about the role of each doctor, test results, treatments, cardiac rehabilitation, and how their families could support their lifestyle changes. Patients who reported receiving more information reported less depressive symptomatology and greater self-efficacy, healthcare satisfaction, and preventive health behaviors. Although most patients of both sexes preferred a shared decision-making role with their physician, the majority felt their doctor had made the main decisions.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients after ICE, especially women, reported receiving much less information than they wanted from all health professionals. Most patients wanted a shared or autonomous treatment decision-making role with their doctor, but only a minority experienced this. Clinicians must do better, because meeting patients' information needs and respecting their decisional preferences are shown to be associated with better self-efficacy, satisfaction, and health-promoting behavior.
Stewart
Donna E
DE
University Health Network Women's Health Program, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. donna.stewart@uhn.on.ca
Abbey
Susan E
SE
Shnek
Zachary M
ZM
Irvine
Jane
J
Grace
Sherry L
SL
D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires