For their study, researchers surveyed primary care physicians and presented each physician with one of two clinical scenarios. Both scenarios involved two treatment options, one of which demonstrated a greater chance of survival but resulted in “unpleasant” adverse effects.
Among 242 physicians who were “faced” with a colon cancer scenario, 37.8 percent chose the treatment with a higher death rate for themselves, while 24.5 percent would have recommended the same treatment to a patient. Similarly, among 698 physicians “faced” with the avian influenza scenario, 62.9 percent chose the outcome with the higher death rate for themselves, while only 48.5 percent recommended the same treatment for patients.
Read the study about physicians’ recommendations for themselves vs. patients.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
– CMS Releases Hospital-Acquired Conditions Data
