RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The lure of ‘patient choice’
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 822
OP 826
VO 57
IS 543
A1 Louise D Bryant
A1 Nicola Bown
A1 Hilary L Bekker
A1 Allan House
YR 2007
UL http://bjgp.org/content/57/543/822.abstract
AB As primary care practitioners are the health professionals closest to patients' everyday lives, they are most likely to experience the impact of policies that support the patient choice agenda. The government's approach to increasing patient choice has been subject to criticism by those sceptical of its politics and by those concerned with its influence on health providers and some patient groups. A perspective missing from the debate is one informed by research on the psychology of choice. Some psychologists have argued that a seemingly inbuilt preference for choice can adversely affect the decision-making process and that presenting healthcare decisions as choices may result in less reasoned decision making. It is important that GPs encourage patients to make reasoned healthcare decisions that are informed by an evaluation of the options rather than by a simple preference for choice. Patients are likely to be less satisfied with, and experience more regret about, choices made without reasoning.