Table 6.
Relations between patient characteristics and patient preferences: qualitative results (description of significant relations)*
| (a) Age | |
| Availability | Younger patients give greater preference to hospital emergency treatment (Mold), home care rather than hospital care for low risk pneumonia (Coley), self‐referral rather than a gate keeper system (Gross, Himmel, Tabenkin), trying different doctors (Beisecker); younger adolescents place greater emphasis on having the same physician as their parents (Kapphahn). |
| Older patients give greater preference to a group family practice (Al‐Bashir), a nurse on premises (Smith), medical student participation (Simons), a physician rather than a medical student (Glasser), general practice care rather than specialist care (Poole); older adolescents place greater emphasis on having a different physician than their parents (Kapphahn). | |
| Accessibility | Younger patients give greater preference to appointments within a short time (Jung). |
| Older patients place greater emphasis on keeping costs low (Fletcher), home visitation when seriously ill (Jung), short waiting time for radiotherapy close to home (Palda), short waiting time for in vitro fetilization Ryan), operation in hospital close to home (Finlayson). | |
| Organization and cooperation | Younger patients place greater emphasis on physician responsibility (Fletcher) and on cooperation of the GP with other care providers (McBride). |
| Older patients place greater emphasis on the GP guiding of hospital care (Al‐Bashir), treatment of the entire family by the same physician (Bartholomew), the same physician every visit (Fletcher), usually the same physician (Smith CH), well‐decorated premises (Smith CH), continuity of care from the same doctor (Himmel); older patients give greater preference to their usual physician for breathing difficulties, high blood pressure, relation problems and sore throat (Murphy, four comparisons), older patients find new doctors less comfortable (Murphy) and do not expect the usual care from a new doctor (Murphy). | |
| Preventive services | Younger patients place greater more emphasis on vaccinations and smears (Al‐Bashir), regular health checks [Al‐Bashir, Romm (two comparisons)], all children immunized (Smith CH), regular screening for cancer (Smith CH), health checks for children (Smith CH), preventive care (McBride), prenatal care (Roberts), PSA screening (Wolf), genetic testing for breast cancer (Tambor). |
| Older patients give greater preference to influenza vaccination (Romm), cholesterol measurement (Van de Voort), genetic testing for breast cancer (Jacobsen PB), pre‐symptomatic testing of their children for Huntington disease (Markel) and only an echo during pregnancy when necessary (Van de Voort). | |
| Medical care | Younger patients give greater preference to the physician going on courses (Smith CH), quick referral (Van de Voort), diagnosis and treatment of illness (McBride), correct use of technology (McBride), prostatectomy (Hunter), availability of a doctor with hospital experience (Murphy). |
| Older patients place greater emphasis on complete health care (Fletcher), prescribing drugs (Wolinsky, Van de Voort), treatment of fracture of clavicula by physician him/herself (Van de Voort). | |
| Burden on the patient | Younger patients give greater preference to a standing position during genital examination (Heaton), cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (Mold), artificial respirator (Mold), aggressive treatment for a life threatening condition (Eisemann), physician‐assisted death via pills (Jacobsen JA), physician‐assisted death via injections (Jacobsen JA), trade quality of life for extended survival (early vs. advanced cancer) (Yellen ’94, two comparisons). |
| Older patients have greater willingness to undergo vaginal ultrasound (Bennet), accept expected management for prostate cancer (as opposed to surgery) (Mazur ’96), also a greater preference to die at home (Gilbar) and greater emphasis on treatment for menstrual disorders (Coulter). | |
| Doctor–patient relation | Younger patients give greater preference to asking about life events (Yaffe), receiving a hug (Moore). Younger patients place greater emphasis on enough time (Jung), physician generally offering a chaperone for: genital examination when the physician is of the opposite sex, for heart/lung/ abdominal investigation, for first‐time examination of the genitals (all Penn, four comparisons), family member as chaperone (Phillips), chaperone for vaginal examination by own doctor and doctor other than your own (Jones, two comparisons). Younger adolescents place greater emphasis on parental presence (Kapphahn, two comparisons). |
| Older patients give greater preference to the physician being kind and attentive and also a friendly staff (Al‐Bashir, two comparisons), the physician wearing a white coat (Anvik), the physician providing information on sex (Poma), the staff knowing the patients (Smith CH). Older male adolescents give greater preference to being alone with the physician (no chaperone) (Phillips). | |
| Age and sex of doctor | Younger patients give greater preference to a female physician (Patton, Kerssens), have no preference regarding the sex of the individual performing pelvic examination (Patton). Younger adolescents have a higher health care provider sex preference (Kapphahn, two comparisons). |
| Older patients give greater preference to a male physician for rectal examination (Heaton), older physicians (McKinstry), male physicians (Poma). | |
| Involvement in decisions | Younger patients give greater preference to involvement in decision‐making (Thompson, Cassileth, Ende, Degner, Llewellyn ’95, Bilodeau, Nease (two comparisons), Beisecker, Catalan, Beaver, Ruzicki, Vertinsky, Degner ‘97), an active role (Degner), family involvement in decisions (Degner), doctors making a treatment recommendation (Johnson), challenging authority (Haug, Beisecker), desire for control of health care (Woodward), making joint decision about treatment (Vick), suggesting different treatments from those prescribed by doctor (Beisecker), not placing oneself completely in doctor's hands (Beisecker), the right to make own medical decisions (Beisecker), locus of authority at patient (Beisecker), less preference for doctor making decisions (Kim), patient‐centred style (Smith DH). |
| Older patients give greater preference to allowing a second opinion (Al‐Bashir), a dominant (traditional) doctor (Elstad), the doctor making treatment decisions (Liu). | |
| Informativeness | Younger patients give greater preference to information on alternative treatment (Buckley), have a higher information seeking preference (Ende), give higher priority to communication with patients (McBride), have a higher desire for information (Ewart), desire to obtain all available information (Van der Waal), prefer sickness disclosure (Adib), desire pre‐test education regarding possible emotional reactions to genetic counselling, post‐test counselling and support after genetic counselling (Audrain, two comparisons), prefer being told the truth about prognosis (Blackhall), prefer having all information, good and bad (Cassileth), want maximum detailed information (Cassileth), want to be told the truth when patient may die soon, told that patient will die, but not soon (Dalla‐Vorgia, two comparisons), clear desire for information (Deber), desire for information of influence treatment on body and sexuality (Degner), desire for information on treatment options (Meredith C), desire for information (Nease), emphasis on right to medical information (Beisecker), desire for information to parents of cancer patients, desire of information on job and career relations of cancer patients, information regarding family concerns: the spouse of cancer patients (Derdiarian, three comparisons). |
| Older patients give greater preference to information on what is arthritis, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, understanding of medication and communication with physician (Buckley, five comparisons), talk to someone other than the physician about problems (Poma), educational pamphlets (Shank, two comparisons), greater explanation by doctors (Van de Voort), physician initiation of discussion regarding physical symptoms and daily activities (Detmar, two comparisons), information regarding care for oneself at home (Degner), discussion of sexually transmitted diseases and contraception (Malus, two comparisons). | |
| Counselling and support | Younger patients give greater preference to receipt of information on effects of treatment on sex life (Buckley), counselling on seatbelt usage, home safety issues (Price, two comparisons), family planning (Starr). |
| Older patients give greater preference to regular visitation of the elderly (Al‐Bashir), counselling on weight reduction, sleep difficulties, financial problems (Price, three comparisons), physician initiation of discussion of relations with partner and family (Detmar), provision of self‐care information in connection with breast cancer (Bilodeau). | |
| (b) Sex | |
| Availability | Males give greater preference to convenient surgery times (Smith CH), medical student participation (Simons). |
| Females give greater preference to a nurse as opposed to a doctor for consultation (Drury), availability of a female physician (Smith CH), self‐referral (vs. gate keeper role for the physician) (Gross), physician respecting second opinion (Jung). Female adolescents give greater preference to a different physician than their parents (Kapphahn). | |
| Accessibility | Males give greater preference to waiting times under 20 minutes (Smith CH). |
| Females give greater preference to easy phone consultation with the doctor (Allen), home baby delivery (Van de Voort). | |
| Organization and cooperation | (–) |
| Preventive services | Males give greater preference to save injection rooms for drugs users (Fry). |
| Females give greater preference to regular screening for cancer (Smith CH), echo only when necessary during pregnancy (Van de Voort), preventive care (McBride), genetic testing for breast and ovarian carcinoma (Struewing). | |
| Medical care | Males give greater preference to the doctor sorting out problems and doctor attendance of courses (Smith CH, two comparisons). |
| Females give greater preference to thorough examination (Vertinsky). | |
| Burden on the patient | Females give greater preference to die at home (Gilbar), are more willing to undergo cardiac catheterization (Saha). |
| Doctor–patient relation | Males give greater preference to a male chaperone for teenagers (Philips). |
| Females give greater preference to the physician wearing a white coat (Anvik), ethical conduct (McBride), a chaperone for genital examination when the physician is of the opposite sex, for heart/lung/abdominal examination, for the first time examination (genitals), a nurse offering to chaperone (Penn, five comparisons), a female chaperone, a low number of students present during examination (Bishop, two comparisons), a female chaperone for teenagers (Philips). Female adolescents give greater preference to parental presence (Kapphahn). | |
| Age and sex of doctor | Males give greater preference to a male doctor in general, a male doctor for anal/genital examination (Fennema, two comparisons), a male doctor for general physical examination, examination for sexual problems, or examination for blood in the urine (Ackerman‐Ross, three comparisons), males have no clear physician sex preference (Graffy). |
| Females give greater preference to a female doctor in general, a female doctor for anal/genital examination (Fennema, two comparisons), a female doctor (Kerssens, Radius), a female doctor for general physical examination, examination for sexual problems, or examination for blood in the urine (Ackerman‐Ross, three comparisons). Females (Kerssens) and female adolescents (Kapphahn) place greater emphasis on gender preference. | |
| Involvement in decisions | Females place greater emphasis on having control of their health care (Eisemann), doctor making treatment decisions (Liu), participating in treatment decisions (Llewellyn‐Thomas ’95), no delegation of decision‐making to doctor (Vertinsky), decision‐making (Nease), treatment being a joint decision (Vick). Females give less preference to doctor making decisions for them (Kim). |
| Informativeness | Males give greater preference to sickness disclosure (Adib), information on cancer tests, the physical well‐being of cancer patients and information about family concerns (attention to the spouses of cancer patients) (Detmar, three comparisons). |
| Females give greater preference to information on diets and understanding medication (Bucley, two comparisons), treatment options (Meredith C), information in general (Nease), discussion of sexually transmitted diseases and contraception (Malus, two comparisons), information on the psychosocial well‐being of cancer patients, information for the siblings and parents of cancer patients, and information on the prognosis of cancer patients (Derdiarian, four comparisons). | |
| Counselling and support | Males give greater preference to doctor discussing relations with partner and family (Detmar). |
| Females give greater preference to discussion of effects of illness on self‐image (Buckley), help for personal problems (Kiraly). The physician's opinion regarding sex is more important for females than for males (Boekeloo). | |
| (c) Education | |
| Availability | Higher educated give greater preference to availability of emergency services all day (Starr), self‐referral rather than a gate keeper system (Gross), the possibility of a second opinion (Jung), reduction of consultation barriers (practice hours, baby sitting, transport to practice) (Meredith K), direct access to specialist care (Tabenkin). |
| Accessibility | Lower educated give greater preference to home visits in the case of serious illness (Jung), operation in hospital close to home (Finlayson). |
| Organization and cooperation | Lower educated give greater preference to continuity (Van der Waal). |
| Preventive services | Higher educated give greater preference to yearly blood stool tests, yearly prostate exams, yearly cervical smears, preventive dental care (Price, four comparisons), post‐mortem organ donation (Mold), genetic testing (Glanz), genetic testing breast‐ovarian susceptibility (Lerman ’94), genetic testing for colon carcinoma (Lerman ’96). |
| Lower educated give greater preference to cholesterol measurement (Van de Voort), genetic BRAC1 testing (Hughes). | |
| Medical care | Lower educated give greater preference to drugs prescription (Wolinsky). |
| Burden on the patient | Higher educated give greater preference to treatment for menstrual disorders (Coulter, two comparisons). |
| Lower educated give greater preference to trade of survival for sexual potency (Singer). | |
| Doctor–patient relation | Lower educated give greater preference to a chaperone when the physician is male (Patton), lower educated adolescents give greater preference to parental presence (Kapphahn, two comparisons). |
| Age and sex of doctor | Higher educated give greater preference to a female physician (Elstad). |
| Involvement in decisions | Higher educated give greater preference to involvement in decision‐making (Ende, Strull, Thompson, Cassileth, Deber, Degner, Llewelyn‐Thomas ’95 (two comparisons), Hack, Nease (two comparisons), patient involvement in discussion (Strull), a more ‘democratic’ doctor (Elstad), the patient making decisions about life support technology (Blackhall), a patient‐centred style (Dowset), seeing treatment as a joint decision (Vick). |
| Lower educated give greater preference to a more ‘traditional’ doctor (Elstad). | |
| Informativeness | Higher educated give greater preference to information seeking (Ende), attaining to most detailed information possible (Stewart), sickness disclosure (Adib), being told the truth about diagnosis and prognosis (Blackhall, two comparisons), the most detailed information possible (Cassileth), being told the truth when the patient may die soon, being told the truth when the patient probably may die but not soon, being told the truth the truth about a low probability of dying (Dalla‐Vorgia, three comparisons), medical journals as a source of information about breast cancer (Bilodeau), information (Nease). |
| Lower educated give greater preference to information about venereal diseases (Starr), the physician initiating discussion of physical symptoms (Detmar). | |
| Counselling and support | Higher educated place greater emphasis on help and advice from the physician for smoking cessation, exercise programs, teaching breast self‐examination, limiting alcohol consumption, difficulties sleeping (Price, five comparisons). |
| Lower educated give greater preference to help with situational life support (financial, transport, housing) (Meredith K), self‐care information for breast cancer (Bilodeau). | |
| (d) Economic status | |
| Availability | Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to availability of nursing home care (Starr), self‐referral rather than a gate keeper system (Gross, three comparisons), free access to specialist care (with or without financial incentives (Himmel, two comparisons). |
| Accessibility | Patients with lower economic status place greater emphasis on the costs of in vitro fertilization (Ryan). |
| Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to the doctor being easy to consult on the phone (Allen), short waiting times for in vitro fertilization (Ryan), are willing to travel further to the practice (Shannon), are more willing to pay for abortion (Gibb). | |
| Organization and cooperation | Patients with lower economic status give greater preference to continuity of care (Van der Waal). |
| Preventive services | Patients with lower economic status have more negative attitudes towards genetic testing (BRAC1) (Hughes, two comparisons). |
| Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to annual eye examinations, annual blood stool tests every year (Starr, two comparisons), genetic testing for breast cancer (Tambor), genetic testing for colon cancer risk (Smith KR). | |
| Medical care | Patients with lower economic status give greater preference to prescription of drugs (Wolinsky, two comparisons). |
| Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to diagnosis and treatment of illness and correct use of technology (McBride, two comparisons), are more willing to undergo percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (Saha, two comparisons). | |
| Burden on the patient | Patients with lower economic status give greater preference to radiation therapy (Palda), are more willing to trade of survival for sexual potency (Singer). |
| Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to treatment for menstrual disorders (Coulter), are more willing to undergo cardiac catheterization (Saha). | |
| Doctor–patient relation | Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to ethical conduct (McBride). |
| Age and sex of doctor | Patients with lower economic status give greater preference to a female physician for cervical screening (Nichols). |
| Adolescent patients with higher economic status have a more marked physician sex preference (Kapphahn). | |
| Involvement in decisions | Patients with higher economic status give greater preference to involvement in decision‐making (Ende, two comparisons, Strull, Nease, three comparisons, Beaver), patient‐centred style (Smith DH, two comparisons), patient making decisions about life support technology (Blackhall). |
| Informativeness | Patients with lower economic status give greater preference to education on staying healthy (Starr). |
| Patients with higher economic status have a higher information seeking preference (Ende, two comparisons), value more communication with patients (McBride), prefer being told the truth about diagnosis and prognosis (Blackhall, two comparisons), prefer being told the truth when the patient may die soon (Dalla‐Vorgia), value more information in general and particular with regard to treatment options (Meredith C, two comparisons), place greater emphasis on information (Nease, two comparisons). | |
| Counselling and support | (–) |
| (e) Health status | |
| Availability | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to a cardiologist vs. a primary care physician for chest pain, for syncope, for serious illness, for advice on sport participation, for sport physical examination, for antibiotic advice, for dental visit (Miller, six comparisons), a physician rather than a medical student (Glasser). Adolescent patients with a poorer health status give preference to a different physician as their parents (Kapphahn, 11 comparisons). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to self‐referral rather than the gate keeper system (Gross), general practice care (Poole, two comparisons (405 and 406). | |
| Accessibility | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to short waiting times for total joint replacement (Llewellyn‐Thomas ’98). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to inexpensive drug prescriptions (Al‐Bashir). | |
| Organization and cooperation | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to the same physician on every visit (Fletcher), GP guidance of specialist care (Jung). |
| Preventive services | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to save injection rooms for drug users (Fry, two comparisons), genetic counselling (Glanz), laboratory tests (Zemencuk), pre‐symptomatic testing for Huntington disease (Markel, two comparisons). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to vaccinations and smears and to regular health checks (Al‐Bashir, two comparisons), prenatal care (Roberts), PSA screening (Wolf), genetic testing for colon cancer (Croyle). | |
| Medical care | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to the GP performance of minor surgery (Al‐Bashir), prescription of drugs (Wolinsky, two comparisons), prostatectomy (Hunter) and are more willing to undergo percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (Saha). |
| Patients with better health status are more willing to undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (Saha). | |
| Burden on the patient | Patients with poorer health status are more willing to undergo vaginal ultrasound (Bennet, two comparisons), give greater preference to physician‐assisted death via pills (Jacobsen JA, two comparisons), physician‐assisted death via injection (Jacobsen JA), expected management for prostate cancer (vs. surgery) (Mazur ’96), radiation therapy for breast cancer (Palda) and are more willing to undergo cardiac catheterization (Saha). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to die at home (Gilbar, two comparisons), expected management for prostate cancer (vs. surgery) (Mazur ’96, two comparisons), want greater benefits before accepting anti‐hypertensive therapy (McAlister). | |
| Doctor–patient | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to personal attention (Al‐Bashir). |
| relation | Patients with better health status give greater preference to talking trough a problem at length (Hopton). Adolescent patients with a better health status give greater preference to parental presence during consultation (Kapphahn, 12 comparisons). |
| Age and sex of doctor | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to a female physician (Elstad), to a male physician (Kapphahn, four comparisons). |
| Adolescent patients with better health status have a more marked physician sex preference (Kapphahn, four comparisons). | |
| Involvement in decisions | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to allowing a second opinion (Al‐Bashir), patient involvement in discussion (Strull), shared decision‐making (Stewart), active role in decision‐making (Degner, two comparisons), a role in decision‐making (Davison), participation in hypertension management (Sims), treatment as a result of joint decision (Vick) and value a more traditional, dominant doctor (Elstad). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to involvement in decision‐making (Ende, two comparisons, Thompson, Vertinsky), participation in hypertension management (Sims) and an active role in decision‐making (Degner). | |
| Informativeness | Patients with poorer health status give greater preference to information on surgery (Buckley, two comparisons), occupational therapy, physical therapy, understanding of medication (Bucley, three comparisons), sickness disclosure (Adib), being told the truth about diagnosis and prognosis (Blackhall, two comparisons), on family risk for breast cancer (Degner ’97). |
| Patients with better health status give greater preference to information about alternative treatment (Buckley), family planning, advice about oversea travel (Hopton, two comparisons), attaining the most detailed information possible (Cassileth), being told the truth when patient may die soon (Dalla‐Vorgia, two comparisons), being told the truth when the patient may die but not soon (Dalla‐Vorgia), information on the chances of cure, treatment options, and the side effects of treatment (Meredith C, three comparisons), information about health problem, easy to understand explanation (Vick, two comparisons), attention to family concerns (the spouse of the cancer patient) (Derdiarian) | |
| Counselling and support | Patients with poorer health status place greater emphasis on help and advice from the doctor with regard to the effects of illness on mood, dealing with pain, how illness may affect future, work, energy, relationship and self image (Buckley, seven comparisons), emotional support (Meredith K), information on how to cope with pain, equipment which can make life easier, which can help one to get better, giving up taking medications, special diets, blood pressure (Hopton, six comparisons). |
| Patients with better health status place greater emphasis on help and advice from the doctor with regard to HIV infection, giving up smoking, death of someone close (Hopton, three comparisons), situational life support (financial, transport, housing) (Meredith K). | |
| (f) Utilization of health care | |
| Availability | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for self‐referral rather than a gatekeeper system (Gross). Adolescent patients with a lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for a different physician as their parents (Kapphahn). |
| Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for the same physician for the whole family (Jung). | |
| Accessibility | Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for home visiting in the case of serious illness, the doctor being easy to consult by the phone (Jung, two comparisons). |
| Organization and cooperation | Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for the same physician for every visit, GP guidance of specialist care (Jung, two comparisons). |
| Preventive services | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a more positive attitude towards genetic testing (BRAC1) (Hughes). |
| Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for sigmoidoscopy colon cancer screening, coloscopy colon cancer screening (Dominitz, two comparisons), genetic testing for breast cancer (Tambor, two comparisons). | |
| Medical care | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for prescription of drugs (Wolinsky, two comparisons). |
| Burden on the patient | Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for coloscopy for detection of colon cancer with a risk of perforation (Dominitz), treatment for menstrual disorder (Coulter, two comparisons), prenatal testing with miscarriage risk (Kuppermann). |
| Doctor–patient relation | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for the presence of a chaperone during vaginal examination by their own doctor or by a different doctor (Jones, three comparisons), adolescent patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for parental presence during consultation (Kapphahn). |
| Age and sex of doctor | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for a male doctor (Fennema). |
| Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for a female doctor (Kerssens), have a more marked preference regarding the sex of the physician (Kerssens). | |
| Involvement in decisions | Patients with lower utilization of health care have a greater preference for not to let the doctor make decisions (Ewart), involvement in decisions (Vertinsky, two comparisons), and a greater preference for treatment as a result of joint decisions (Vick). |
| Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for involvement in decisions (Ruzicki). | |
| Informativeness | (–) |
| Counselling and support | Patients with higher utilization of health care have a greater preference for help and advice with regard to smoking cessation, home safety issues (Price, two comparisons), doctor guidance of medicine consumption (Jung). |
| (g) Family situation: dichotomy involving single, small number of children or no family support vs. married, with a higher number of children or family support | |
| Availability | Patients with children younger than 5 years of age have a greater preference for appointments in the morning, patients with children of school age prefer appointments in the afternoon (Cartwright, two comparisons). |
| Accessibility | (–) |
| Organization and cooperation | (–) |
| Preventive services | Single patients have more negative attitudes towards genetic testing (BRAC1) (Hughes), a higher intention to undertake pre‐symptomatic testing for Huntington's disease (Mastromauro). Patients with a small number of children have a higher intention to undertake prenatal testing for Huntington's disease (Meissen), have a higher preference for prenatal testing (Roberts). |
| Patients with family support have a greater preference for autopsy (Mold), genetic testing (Glanz). | |
| Medical care | (–) |
| Burden on the patient | Divorced patients place greater value on physician‐assisted death via pills or via of injection (Jacobsen JA, two comparisons). |
| Patients with family support have a greater preference for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and respirator (Mold, two comparisons), patients with higher family well‐being have a greater preference for aggressive therapy during early stages of cancer (Yellen ’95), patients with children have greater preference for aggressive therapy during advanced stages of cancer (Yellen ’95, two comparisons). | |
| Doctor–patient relation | Patients with higher family involvement have a greater preference for family involvement in health care (Botelho). |
| Age and sex of doctor | Single patients and patients with smaller number of children have a greater preference for a female physician (Patton, two comparisons), Single patients and patients with a smaller number of children have no clear preference regarding sex performing pelvic examination (Patton, two comparisons). |
| Involvement in | Single patients have a greater preference for involvement in decisions (Ende). |
| decisions | Married patients have a greater preference for involvement in decisions (Degner ’97). |
| Informativeness | Single patients have a greater preference for information (Nease), being told the truth when the patient may die soon, being told the truth when the patient may die but not soon, being told the truth when there is a low probability of dying (Dalla‐Vorgia, three comparisons), for information on self‐care in the case of cancer (Davison). Patients without children have a greater preference for being told the truth when patient may die soon (Dalla‐Vorgia). |
| Counselling and support | (–) |
| (h) Ethnicity | |
| Availability | Non‐white adolescent patients have a greater preference for a different physician than their parents’ physician (Kapphahn). |
| Accessibility | (–) |
| Organization and cooperation | (–) |
| Preventive services | Non‐white patients have a greater preference for sigmoidoscopy or coloscopy screening for colon cancer (Dominitz, two comparisons). White patients have a greater preference for genetic testing for breast cancer than black patients (Tambor). Black patients have more positive attitude towards the benefits of genetic testing for breast cancer (BRCA1 testing) (Hughes), |
| Medical care | Black patients have a greater preference for the prescription of drugs (Wolinsky). White patients are more willing to undergo renal transplant (Ayanian). |
| Burden on the patient | (–) |
| Doctor–patient relation | Black patients have a greater preference for a chaperone when the physician is female (Patton), Non‐white adolescent patients have a greater preference for parental presence during consultation and examination (Kapphahn), patients who do not speak the official language have a higher tolerance of sexual remarks on the part of the physician and a higher behavioural tolerance for being given a hug, for example (Moore, two comparisons). Patients who speak the official language feel more comfortable during intimate examinations (Moore). |
| Age and sex of doctor | White adolescent male patients have a greater preference for a male physician (Kapphahn), Black adult males have a greater preference for a female physician (Van Ness). |
| Involvement in decisions | White patients have a greater preference for involvement in decisions (Strull). Patients who speak the official language have a greater preference for involvement in decisions (Degner ’97), African/ European American patients have a greater preference for involvement in decisions than Mexican American patients or Korean American patients (Blackhall, two comparisons), African American patients give greater preference to genetic testing for Breast‐Ovarian cancer susceptibility against doctor's recommendation and place greater emphasis on parents deciding when minor children should be tested (Benkendorf, two comparisons). |
| Informativeness | Patients with a high level of (American) acculturation, and African/European American patients place greater emphasis on being told the truth about diagnosis and prognosis than patients with a lower level of (American) acculturation and Mexican American patients or Korean American patients (Blackhall, six comparisons). White patients have a greater preference for attaining the most detailed information possible (Cassileth). |
| Counselling and support | African American patients have a greater preference for emotional support and situational life support (housing, employment, financial aid) than Caucasian American patients (Meredith K, two comparisons). |
| (i) Religion | |
| Availability | Non‐religious patients place greater emphasis on a second opinion (Vertinsky), Muslims place greater emphasis on the availability of an all Asian‐clinic (McAvoy). |
| Accessibility | (–) |
| Organization and cooperation | (–) |
| Preventive services | Catholic or Jewish patients have a greater preference for genetic testing for colon carcinoma than protestant patients (Lerman ’96), Non‐catholic patients have a greater preference for prenatal testing for Huntington's disease than catholic patients (Markel). Protestant patients have a greater preference for prenatal testing for Huntington's disease than Catholic or Jewish patients (Mastromauro). |
| Medical care | (–) |
| Burden on the patient | Non‐religious patients have a more positive attitude towards physician‐assisted death via pills or injection (Jacobsen, two comparisons), non‐religious patients have a more positive attitude towards euthanasia for a competent person on life sustaining equipment, a terminal ill patient, a chronically disabled patient, a patient with AIDS, a chronically depressed patient, a patient with series of life disappointments, patients in a hospital with economic difficulties, a seriously ill and disabled child requesting euthanasia, parental refusal of the medical treatment required to save the life of a severely handicapped child (Genuis, nine comparisons). |
| Doctor–patient relation | (–) |
| Age and sex of doctor | (–) |
| Involvement in decisions | Protestant and Christian patients place greater emphasis on patient making decisions regarding life support technology than Catholic or Buddhist patients (Blackhall, one comparison). |
| Informativeness | Non‐Muslim patients place greater emphasis on sickness disclosure to the patient than Muslim patients (Adib), Protestant and Christian patients place greater emphasis on telling the patient the truth about diagnosis than Catholic or Buddhist patients (Blackhall, one comparison), Non‐religious patients place greater emphasis on being told the truth when patient may die but not soon (Dalla‐Vorgia). |
| Counselling and support | (–) |
*Name in parenthesis indicates the study which included that particular relation.