health
Videos make patients think twice about knee, hip replacements
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 24, 2012
Patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis are much less likely to opt for joint replacement surgery after watching DVDs containing evidence-based information about the risks and benefits of surgery, said a Health Affairs study published in September.
The observational study involved nearly 10,000 patients at the Group Health integrated health system, half of whom saw videos prepared by the Boston-based Informed Medical Decisions Foundation. The use of the so-called decision aids was linked to 26% fewer hip replacements, 38% fewer knee replacements and cost savings of more than 10%, said the study (link).
Previous studies have found that decision aids improve patients’ knowledge when making complex medical choices in consultation with their physicians.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/09/24/hlbf0924.htm.
