This timely guide to communication in patient-centered medicine argues for greater clarity in
explaining health risks versus benefits of an array of screening tests procedures and drug
regimens. It reviews the growing trend toward patients' involvement in their own care
particularly in terms of chronic conditions and details approaches physicians can use to
prepare patients (and themselves) for collaborative decision-making based on informed choices
and clear meaningful knowledge. Chapters apply this lens to a wide range of common
interventions as contentious as estrogen replacement therapy and antibiotics and as widely
prescribed as the daily aspirin and the annual physical. With this goal in mind the authors
also introduce an innovative decision-making tool that translates risks and benefits into a
clear graphic format for fewer chances of miscommunication or misunderstanding. Among the
topics covered: Involving the patient in decision making. Towards a universal decision aid.
BRCT: the Benefit Risk Characterization Theater. Breast Cancer Screening-Mammograms. Prostate
Cancer Screening. Colon cancer screening with colonoscopy. Screening for and treating dementia.
Statins cholesterol and coronary heart disease. Physicians in family and internal medicine
will find Interpreting Health Benefits and Risks: A Practical Guide to Facilitate Doctor-
Patient Communication a valuable resource for communicating with patients and new possibilities
for working toward their better health and health education. This book considers several common
and important situations where faulty decision-making makes overtreatment a serious risk. Clear
fair referenced and useful information is provided. And a powerful intuitive technique is
introduced which allows patient and doctor to talk as equals as they work together in the exam
room. The authors emphasize that some patients who have been fully educated will still accept
high risks of harm for a small chance of avoiding premature death. But as this book is accepted
and its ideas and technique are extended I feel sure that net harm to patients will be
curtailed. And what is more the integrity of the decision-making process will be improved.
-Thomas Finucane MD Professor of Medicine Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
