The need for proactive patient education

A study revealed that when doctors diagnose patients they disclose the main treatment alternatives in only 20% of the cases (Journal of Medical Economics). Another study found that only 9% of all medical decisions made met the criteria for completeness of informed decision making (American Medical Association).

Doctors imparted information to patients for an average of little more than a minute during interviews that lasted an average of less than 20 minutes. The same study also found that, in 65% of the cases, physicians thought patients wanted less information than they actually did (Journal of Medical Economics).

The nursing shortage
In addition to the above, the nursing shortage is causing adverse effects on the quality of patient care. In Canada alone there is a need for 126,000 more nurses, while in the United States one in seven hospitals are short of nurses. The U.S. will experience a 20% shortage in the numbers of nurses needed by the year 2020. Given these shortages, many physicians and nurses do not take the time to fully educate a patient and explain all the facts. It is therefore important for patients to take a proactive role in their care, in order to make informed treatment choices and gain comfort through the understanding of their cancer.



Numerous studies demonstrate that patients who are actively involved in their decision-making, are more satisfied, have a better quality of life and better health outcomes. With the help of the OIES™ you can gain the knowledge you need in your fight against cancer.

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