Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Give patients the pros and cons of treatment options

Barbara Bronson Gray, RN
Patient
October 27, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

If you or someone you love is considering surgery or an intensive treatment, it really pays to be sure you understand the pros and cons.

While that seems like common sense, millions of people say “yes” without learning all the facts.

Some simply rely on the trust they have in their physician. Others assume the known benefits and risks are too complicated to fully understand. And some people just want to get their problem fixed.

It turns out that when people hear the pros and cons of a procedure or surgery they’re considering, many opt out.

I’ll tell you an example from my own experience that I’ve never forgotten. When I was in nursing school at UCLA, I had a patient who was going to get extensive surgery the next day. He had a lot of questions.

I reviewed his chart and the consent form he was going to be signing, and realized he didn’t know much about what he would be experiencing. I was surprised to find out that he was unaware that his tongue was going to be removed as part of the surgery. He didn’t like that. So I encouraged him to talk with his physician before he proceeded.

He did. And then he promptly checked out of the hospital.

The next day I was summoned to the nursing school’s Dean’s office because the surgeon had complained about me. I went there imagining all the other careers I might be interested in pursuing should I be kicked out of nursing.

Instead, the Dean commended me for representing the patient’s interest. And I learned something very important: never assume you know — or as in this case, your patient knows — what’s needed in order to make the right decision.

What your physician thinks is the smart thing to do may not end up being what you personally are comfortable with. And that’s OK.

That’s why I liked this study in Health Affairs this month about the impact of giving people a good overview of the pros and cons of treatment options. Group Health Cooperative, a nonprofit health system in Seattle, Washington offered evidence-based video information about making decisions about surgery to people with knee and hip osteoarthritis.

With more than 27 million Americans dealing with osteroarthritis, joint replacement surgeries are increasingly common. Surgery is not the only option for many people; there are a range of nonsurgical approaches that can help relieve the symptoms.

The video offered patients unbiased information about the three-month recovery time for joint replacement, the 10 to 20 year lifespan of artificial joints and potential risk of infection or repeat surgeries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Group Health found that after informing people thoroughly about the pros and cons — and other options — they saw a 38 percent reduction in knee replacement surgeries, a 26 percent decline in hip replacement surgeries and a 12 percent cut in health care costs over six months.

“We have long made the case that making sure patients are informed by giving them high-quality decision aids is the ethical way to practice medicine, said Floyd “Jack” Fowler, senior scientific advisor at the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation. “This study is the best demonstration that providing decision aids is both a way to improve the quality of medical care and a way to potentially reduce the costs of care,” he added.

The more you know about your situation and your options, the better your decisions will be.

Barbara Bronson Gray is a nurse who blogs at BodBoss.

Prev

Healthier menus without restrictive legislation

October 27, 2012 Kevin 2
…
Next

Give life a chance to amaze you with what’s possible

October 27, 2012 Kevin 5
…

Tagged as: Patients, Primary Care, Surgery

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Healthier menus without restrictive legislation
Next Post >
Give life a chance to amaze you with what’s possible

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Barbara Bronson Gray, RN

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    We need an Apple Genius Bar for patients

    Barbara Bronson Gray, RN
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Taking medications in the middle of the night can be risky

    Barbara Bronson Gray, RN
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    How can we improve the patient experience?

    Barbara Bronson Gray, RN

More in Patient

  • AI’s role in streamlining colorectal cancer screening [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • There’s no one to drive your patient home

    Denise Reich
  • Dying is a selfish business

    Nancie Wiseman Attwater
  • A story of a good death

    Carol Ewig
  • We are warriors: doctors and patients

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Patient care is not a spectator sport

    Jim Sholler
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Mastering medical presentations: Elevating your impact

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why what doctors say matters more than you think [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden incentives driving frivolous malpractice lawsuits

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Bureaucracy over care: How the U.S. health care system lost its way

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why wanting more from your medical career is a sign of strength

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • U.S. health care leadership must prepare for policy-driven change

      Lee Scheinbart, MD | Policy
    • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

      Jordan Williamson, MEd | Education
    • Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How a rainy walk helped an oncologist rediscover joy and bravery

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Mastering medical presentations: Elevating your impact

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why what doctors say matters more than you think [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden incentives driving frivolous malpractice lawsuits

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Bureaucracy over care: How the U.S. health care system lost its way

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why wanting more from your medical career is a sign of strength

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • U.S. health care leadership must prepare for policy-driven change

      Lee Scheinbart, MD | Policy
    • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

      Jordan Williamson, MEd | Education
    • Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How a rainy walk helped an oncologist rediscover joy and bravery

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Give patients the pros and cons of treatment options
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...