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. 2003 Sep 27;327(7417):745-8.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7417.745.

Strategies to help patients understand risks

John Paling  1
Affiliations

Strategies to help patients understand risks

John Paling. BMJ. .

Abstract

Explaining risks to patients in an effective way is an essential part of ensuring that consent is “informed.” A consultant in risk communication discusses the strategies that can help doctors to communicate risks clearly, and thereby also build closer relationships with their patients

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Competence and caring in relation to building trust. Adapted from Spence
Fig 2
Fig 2
Paling Perspective Scale© —for giving perspective to risks of low order of probability. From research report by Small P et al
Fig 3
Fig 3
Paling Palette© —for displaying most medical risks with a probability of higher than 1 in 1000. The doctor or genetic counsellor fills in the relevant data while sitting beside the patient. This format shows the estimates of positive and negative outcomes simultaneously and presents unambiguous visual representations of the probabilities. The patient may take a printout home for further consideration, or the form may be signed by the patient and a copy kept on file
Fig 4
Fig 4
Revised Paling Perspective Scale© —for displaying risks covering widely different orders of magnitude
Figure 5
Figure 5
Making risk communication more effective
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Lloyd A, Hayes P, Bell RF, Naylor AR. The role of risk and benefit perception in informed consent for surgery. Med Decis Making 2001;21: 141-9. - PubMed
    1. Ropeik D, Clay G. Risk! A practical guide for deciding what's really safe and what's really dangerous in the world around you. New York: N Y Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
    1. Bennett P. Understanding responses to risk: some basic findings. In: Bennett P, Calman K. Risk communication and public health. Oxford: Oxford Medical Publications,1999: 3-19.