Understanding patients' decisions: cognitive and emotional perspectives

Article Abstract:

Different emotional and psychological factors may influence patients' decisions about different types of treatment. Physicians should try to understand the factors that effect the process of intuitive decision making. A study reviewed articles in the psychology literature that examined the process of intuitive decision making. Patients may sometimes make reasonable decisions based on their intuitive feelings. Other times, patients may make intuitive decisions that are not beneficial to their health. Individuals tend to categorize things as either dangerous or safe. They may not understand the importance of partial risk reduction, and may be influenced by the way in which a situation is presented. Emotions can have a powerful effect on people's perceptions and ability to think rationally. They may also affect memories of events that occurred in the past.

Psychological aspects, Decision-making, Decision making, Planning, Therapeutics

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Capturing the Patient's View of Change as a Clinical Outcome Measure

Article Abstract:

Doctors should ask patients how their health has changed as a result of medical treatments rather than simply relying on physiological measurements. Doctors in clinical trials usually evaluate physiological measurements at various points in time. An example would be changes in blood cholesterol levels when the patient takes cholesterol-lowering drugs. In a study of 202 arthritis patients who received educational material, prednisone or joint replacement surgery, measures of pain and disability did not always match the patients' attitudes about their health.

Evaluation, Measurement, Medical care, Patient satisfaction

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Prognostic Indices in Clinical Practice

Article Abstract:

Prognostic indexes may be hard for doctors to accept and use but may ultimately change their beliefs about a patient's prognosis. These indexes usually indicate what physiological characteristics increase a patient's risk of death.

Editorial, Usage, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Health status indicators

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