title: The value of choice: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Providing choice in health care is part of an ongoing policy initiative.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore how people understand choice in healthcare provision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  South East England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two people were interviewed about the issue of choice in general, and choice in healthcare in particular. Data were analysed using template analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants discussed choice in the NHS within the context of the GP consultation. Four main themes about choice were identified: positive aspects of choice; the appearance of choice; unwanted choice; and the role of information in choice. Participants valued choice in principle, and having choice was seen as positive. However, the provision of choice options was not always associated with the possibility of meaningful choice. Participants expressed that in some instances they were given the appearance rather than the substance of choice. Making - as opposed to having - choice was often unwanted and considered as indicative of erosion in trust in the GP. Information was seen as a necessary, but not sufficient, prerequisite of informed choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People value having choices rather than making choices but are concerned about choice provision for its own sake rather than choice that is available in a meaningful way. Health care policy that recommends an increase in choice per se may be met with scepticism which could ultimately undermine, rather than promote, the doctor-patient relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. j.barnett@surrey.ac.uk
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daniells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
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