AHRQ Patient Safety Network: Patients' expectations of the benefits and harms of treatments, screening, and tests: a systematic review.

AHRQ Patient Safety Network



Patients' expectations of the benefits and harms of treatments, screening, and tests: a systematic review.

Hoffmann TC, Del Mar C. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Dec 22; [Epub ahead of print].

This systematic review found that patients generally overestimate benefits and underestimate harms related to tests and treatments. The topics studied included cancer, surgery, cardiovascular disease, fetal–maternal medicine, and medications. These findings suggest that unrealistic patient expectations may contribute to health care overuse.

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