Physicians' Views on the Level of Medical Information Among Patients

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Abstract
Data were obtained by interview, questionnaire and studies of communication between patients and physicians in an outpatient department. Patients were poorly informed about their own condition on entering the clinic and about 10 common diseases. Patients demanded little information from physicians but interviews revealed a latent desire for more information among the majority. Clinic physicians thought patients should know more basic facts on common diseases. Most physicians underestimated knowledge of clinic patients, despite patients'' low level of information. These physicians discussed the illness with the patient less than physicians who did not underestimate. Most patients were told a few isolated facts; few were given a systematic explanation. Patients who were given thorough explanations participated more effectively with physicians and more readily accepted doctors'' formulations than patients who received little information.

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