Patient expectations regarding the benefits and harms of any treatment, tests or screenings are vastly unrealistic, according to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study authors systematically assessed studies that quantified patients' expectations of the benefits and/or harms of any treatment, test or screening test.
In 88 percent of the benefit expectation outcomes studied, authors concluded participants tended to overestimate the benefits of treatment.
In 67 percent of the harm expectation outcomes studied, patients vastly underestimated the harm that would result from treatments, tests and screenings, according to the report.
Considering the findings, the study authors recommended clinicians discuss accurate and balanced information about intervention and treatment with patients to better temper their expectations and help them make more informed decisions.