1. Opt‐in or opt‐out health‐care communication? A cross‐sectional study.
- Author
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Tong, Vivien, Krass, Ines, Robson, Stephen, and Aslani, Parisa
- Subjects
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HEALTH education , *PILOT projects , *MEDICINE information services , *FOCUS groups , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *PATIENT decision making , *CROSS-sectional method , *CHRONIC diseases , *INTERVIEWING , *HEALTH outcome assessment , *MANN Whitney U Test , *SURVEYS , *HEALTH information services , *HEALTH literacy , *TEST validity , *COMPARATIVE studies , *COMMUNICATION , *HEALTH , *INFORMATION resources , *HEALTH attitudes , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHI-squared test , *PATIENT-professional relations , *PATIENT education , *THEMATIC analysis , *STATISTICAL sampling , *DATA analysis software , *DATA analysis , *PUBLIC opinion , *MEDICAL needs assessment ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
Background: Patients need medication and medical condition‐related information to better self‐manage their health. Health‐care professionals (HCPs) should be able to actively provide information outside of one‐on‐one consultations; however, patient consent may be required. Objective: To investigate the Australian public's preferences, and factors that may influence their preferences, towards an opt‐in versus an opt‐out approach to health communication. Design: A cross‐sectional study using a structured questionnaire administered via Computer‐Assisted Telephone Interviewing. Setting and participants: Participants across Australia who were adults, English‐speaking and had a long‐term medical condition. Main outcome measures: Preferences for opt‐in vs opt‐out approach to receiving follow‐up tailored information. Results: A total of 8683 calls were made to achieve the required sample size of 589 completed surveys. Many (346/589; 58.7%) indicated that they were interested in receiving tailored, ongoing follow‐up information from their HCP. Nearly half (n = 281; 47.7%) preferred an opt‐in service and 293/589 (49.7%) an opt‐out service for receiving follow‐up information. Reasons for preferring an opt‐in service were being in control of the information received (n = 254); able to make a decision that is best for them (n = 245); opt‐in service would save time for HCPs (n = 217); they may not want or need the information (n = 240). Many (n = 255) felt that an opt‐out service should be part of the normal duty of care of their HCP and believed (n = 267) that this approach would ensure that everyone has access to information. Conclusions: Respondents were interested in receiving tailored information outside of consultation times. However, preferences for an opt‐in or opt‐out approach were divided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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