Influence of method of reporting study results on decision of physicians to prescribe drugs to lower cholesterol concentration

Abstract

Physicians' views of the effectiveness of lipid lowering drugs and the decision to prescribe such drugs is affected by the predominant use of reduction of relative risk in trial reports and advertisements.

Perception of risk information. Similarities and differences between Danish and Polish general practitioners

“…The nding that more doctors would recommend the drug when information only on relative risk reduction was given is in accordance with other studies (2,4,21). In our study, the effect of presenting risk reduction in relative terms compared to absolute terms is similar to ndings in a Swiss study of physicians' decisions to prescribe drugs in order to lower serum cholesterol levels (22).…”

Coverage by the News Media of the Benefits and Risks of Medications

“…17 T Physicians, consumers, and third-party payers may be more enthusiastic about long-term preventive treatments when benefits are stated as relative, rather than absolute, reductions in the risk of adverse events. [18][19][20][21][22] Medical-journal editors have said that reporting only relative reductions in risk is usually inadequate in scientific articles and have urged the news media to consider the importance of discussing both absolute and relative risks. 3,23 For example, a story reporting that in patients with myocardial infarction, a new drug reduces the mortality rate at two years from 10 percent to 7 percent may help patients weigh both the 3 percent absolute and the 30 percent relative reduction in risk against the costs of the drug and its side effects.…”

“…Eighty-three percent presented in- (17) 6 (15) 9 (21) 6 (13) Television network 27 (13) 10 (14) 10 (14) 7 (10) (30) 3 (30) 3 (43) formation on benefits in relative terms only -an approach that has been shown to increase the enthusiasm of doctors and patients for long-term preventive treatments and that could be viewed as potentially misleading. 18,20,38 In general, giving only the absolute or only the relative benefits does not tell the full story; it is more informative if both researchers and the media make data available in both absolute and relative terms.…”

Understanding of diabetes prevention studies: questionnaire survey of professionals in diabetes care

“…Based upon a vast literature on framing of data [3][4][5][6][7][8] and the results of the pilot study, the following assumptions were made. Effect sizes are rated highest when presented as relative risk reduction (RRR) with higher numerical RRRs being more important than lower values (item 1 vs item 3).…”

“…This requires translation of study results into clear and understandable information [3]. Framing of data is a wellrecognised cause of misconceptions about the efficacy of health interventions by physicians [4][5][6], healthcare decision-makers [7], and patients [8]. This is particularly relevant for preventive medicine [9].…”