In August 2004, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) began work on a programme called ‘Communication between patients and their hospital doctor’ in order to suggest ways in which greater understanding of the doctor/patient partnership can produce more effective treatment and care.
The first phase of the programme, which focused on “Explaining the risks and benefits of treatment options”, has been completed. This aimed to enable an informed choice about treatment to be made by ensuring an appropriate dialogue between the individual (hospital) doctor and patient (or carer).
The main outcomes of this phase have been:
An article by Professor Richard Thomson et al., Risk communication in the clinical consultation (Clin Med 2005; 5:465-9) which provides an excellent summary of the concepts and theory behind the explanation of the risks, benefits and harms of treatment
An article in the May/June 2006 issue of the College Commentary by the Clinical Vice-President, Dr Mary Armitage, Margaret Goose, Dr Elisabeth Rosser and Nicole Barlow – What are the chances? How well do doctors explain the risks and benefits of treatment options to patients?
A leaflet for hospital doctors: Explaining the risks and benefits of treatment options ? Suggestions for hospital doctors
A leaflet for patients and carers: Choosing the right treatment
A discussion paper which went to the College Officers’ Forum in November 2005
A further reading list