title: How information about other people's personal experiences can help with healthcare decision-making: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate people's views of using 'general facts' and information about other people's 'personal experiences' for health-related decision-making.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two people, who between them had experience of five different focal health issues, participated in 12 focus groups and 9 interviews. Exploration of uses of the two types of information was supported by discussion of illustrative excerpts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was less discussion of 'general facts'; participants thought it obvious that good decisions required these. Participants reported having used 'personal experiences' information to: recognise decisions that needed consideration; identify options; appraise options and make selections (including by developing and reflecting on their reasoning about possible choices); and support coping strategies. Their inclination to use 'personal experiences' information was apparently moderated by assessments of personal relevance, the motives of information providers and the 'balance' of experiences presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People can use 'personal experiences' information in various ways to support their decision-making, and exercise some discrimination as they do.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  'Personal experiences' information may help people in a number of ways in relation to decision-making. However, 'personal experiences' information does not replace the need for 'general facts' and care should be taken when it is used in resources for patients.
authors.affiliation: Social Dimensions of Health Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. v.entwistle@cpse.dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Vikki Ann
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Entwistle
authors.forename: Emma F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wyke
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jepson
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziebland
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006113:United Kingdom