PATIENT DESIRE FOR INFORMATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN HEALTH-CARE DECISIONS - THE AUTONOMY PREFERENCE INDEX AND THE HEALTH OPINION SURVEY

OBJECTIVES: To compare results on the Autonomy Preference Index (API) and the Health Opinion Survey (HOS), two instruments that measure pati ent desire for information and involvement in decision making, DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: University-based primary care outpat ient longitudinal and acute care clinic. PATIENTS: 167 patients with b enign prostatic hyperplasia, back pain, or mild hypertension seen from October 1991 to December 1992. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On the API and the HOS (both scaled from 0 to 1), the patients had intermedia te desire for involvement in decision making (median API: 0.42; HOS: 0 .36) and higher desire for information (median API: 0.97; HOS: 0.57). With either instrument, the desire for information exceeded that for i nvolvement in decision making (p < 0.0001). The API information scores were higher than the HOS information scores (p < 0.0001), probably be cause the HOS focuses on patient behavior rather than desire, Variatio n in desire for information and involvement in decision making was sub stantial and largely unexplained. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients have a hi gh desire for information, the desire for information and involvement in decision making varies substantially among patients, and the API is preferable to the HOS for researchers interested in focusing solely o n patient desire for information.