This document summarizes the results of a national survey of medical decisions. It found that 77% of Americans aged 40+ discussed at least one medical decision in the past two years. The most common decisions discussed were starting or stopping medication (52%) and discussing screening tests (59%). Knowledge about medical conditions was low, ranging from 20% to 84% correct depending on the condition. Discussion of pros and cons varied, from 6% to 84% depending on the decision. The decision process score, which measures how informed and collaborative the decision process was, ranged from 1.5 to 3.2 out of 5 depending on the decision. In the end, patients had surgery 42% of the time, took medication 79% of the

1. A N a t i o n a l S u r v e y o f M e d i c a l D e c i s i o n s
Trends
Carrie Levin, Vickie Stringfellow, Bethany Gerstein
Research
January 2013

2. Why did we do the study?
2

3. Trends Study: Background
• Conducted by IMDF/ Knowledge Networks
• Address-based national Internet panel
• 3,326 English speakingAmericans aged 40+
• Eligible if discussed at least 1 of 10 medical
decisions with HCP in past 2 years
• Response rate of 58%
• Can’t compare to DECISIONS
• Oversample of 500 inWashington State
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4. Trends Study: Decisions Addressed
4
• Knee
• Hip
• Low Back
• Cataracts
Surgery
• Colorectal
• Breast (women)
• Prostate (men)
Cancer Screening
• Depression
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
Medication

5. Trends Study: Survey Questions
5
Knowledge:
3-5 questions for each topic
that are the key things that
patients need to know before
making a decision
Goals and Concerns:
When thinking about
whether to have
intervention, how important
was…
Information Sources:
How important was
information from
HCPs, media, friends or
family, Internet
Decision Process:
Options, pros, cons, did
provider give recommendation,
did provider ask what patient
wants to do
Questions in
Each Module

6. Epidemiology of Medical Decisions
6
In the
Past
2 Years:
77% made at least 1 decision:
52% discussed starting or
stopping medication
59% discussed a screening test
18% discussed surgery

7. Knowledge Question: % Correct
33%
35%
20%
42%
34%
84%
46%
43%
54%
48%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
KneeOA
Hip OA
Low Back
Cataract
Depression
Hypertension
Cholesterol
Prostate
Colorectal
Breast
7
Cancer
Screening
Meds
Surgery

8. Discussion of Pros & Cons
47%
33%
68%
34%
47%
28%
35%
8%
12%
6%
76%
80%
84%
83%
82%
77%
70%
41%
57%
45%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
KneeOA
Hip OA
Low Back
Cataract
Depression
Hypertension
Cholesterol
Prostate
Colorectal
Breast
8
Cancer
creening
Meds
Surgery
Pros
Cons

9. Decision Process Score
2.8
2.5
3.2
2.2
2.7
2.1
2.2
1.7
2.0
1.5
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
KneeOA
Hip OA
Low Back
Cataract
Depression
Hypertension
Cholesterol
Prostate
Colorectal
Breast
9
Cancer
Screening
Meds
Surgery

10. What do Patients Do?
Have Surgery: 42%
Take Medication: 79%
Have Screening Test: 89%
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11. 11
Thank You!