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Background: Various guidelines have highlighted the importance of patients being given information on malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC), both when diagnosed with the condition and as a tool to aid early detection., Aim: To determine patient and staff views on the provision of MSCC information to patients with a diagnosis of or considered to be at high risk of developing MSCC., Methods: Patients with MSCC admitted to a large regional cancer centre in Scotland over a 6-month period were interviewed. Staff were also surveyed using similar questions., Results: Fifty-six patients and fifty staff were recruited. Only 4% of staff reported giving any written information about MSCC to patients with a confirmed diagnosis, although 20% of patients said they received it and 77% wanted it. A total of 54% of staff reported gaving prophylactic information about MSCC to patients, although the majority of the patients (86%) said they would have wanted this information. Patients generally did not access additional information about MSCC and were dependent on the limited amount provided by the health-care team., Conclusion: Health professionals need to ensure that patients get the information they want, which will allow them to recognize MSCC symptoms early for improved treatment outcomes or to better adapt to a diagnosis.

This paper discusses the piloting of a computerised decision aid that provides individualised information about hypertension to patients. The program is based on decision analysis, using decision trees as a way of structuring information. It incorporates the Framingham risk equation to assess a users' risk of coronary artery disease, together with a detailed assessment of the patient's current lifestyle and their willingness to change behaviour. Users of the program can decide how much or how little information they access. The program assesses individual's preferences for different treatment outcomes, before providing them with guidance on what might be the best treatment option for them. The program was evaluated by 10 patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate hypertension and 8 health care professionals. Overall, both health care professionals and patients assessed the program positively. The use of a decision aid based on decision analysis may be a useful way of providing information to patients in order to promote shared decision making.

This paper discusses the development and evaluation of a computerised decision aid that provides individualised information about Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Hypertension to patients. The program is based on decision analysis, using decision trees as a way of providing users with information regarding the probability of different outcomes occurring, obtaining an individual evaluation of the different outcomes, before providing guidance on what might be the 'best' option for that patient. It is intended that the program can be used as the basis for helping patients to become more involved in decisions about their medical treatment. Eight health care professionals and 19 patients (9 with BPH and 10 with Hypertension) evaluated the program. Overall it was assessed positively by both health care professionals and patients. However, before it can be integrated into health care practice, the program is to be evaluated further in a randomised trial.