Survey: Public Believes Decisions Concerning Treatment Should Rest With Patients and Physicians
Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 09:00 CST
WASHINGTON, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report issued today by the National Consumers League (NCL) has found that the American public strongly supports broader access to treatments -- even if they carry additional risks - - for patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
NCL commissioned Opinion Research Corp. to conduct a national survey to examine consumers' attitudes towards the risks and benefits of treatments for chronic, debilitating conditions, as well as public attitudes towards the role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The result of the survey is a report, "Public Attitudes towards Risk, Regulation, and Patient Voices in the Treatment of Chronic, Debilitating Conditions," which points to a public desire to keep medical decisions in the hands of patients and their physicians.
"To be sure, patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are among the most medically challenged and knowledgeable in the country. They are in constant contact with their physicians and have a solid grasp of benefits and risks," said Linda Golodner, NCL President. "It obviously makes sense for these patients to have access to as many treatment options as possible and make decisions that are right for them, even if there are additional risks."
The report had five key findings: 1. The public overwhelmingly believes that decisions concerning appropriate treatment should rest in the hands of physicians and patients. More than nine out of 10 respondents agreed with the statement: "All medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, offer benefits but also carry some risk of side effects. It should be up to physicians and patients to the weigh benefits against the risks and to make decisions that are right for them." 2. The public strongly supports broader access to treatments -- even if they carry additional risks -- for patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Seventy-nine percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "Due to the severity of chronic, debilitating conditions, like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, patients suffering from those conditions should have access to a broader set of treatments, even if they carry additional risks." 3. The public endorses increased involvement by patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions in regulatory decisions related to the treatment of their conditions. 4. The public supports the FDA providing timely medical information to enable patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions to make good decisions on the treatment of their conditions. 5. The public is willing to assume greater risk of side-effect from new medications if they demonstrate a clear benefit in treating disease.
"Everything in life carries risks, but in the case of chronic, debilitating conditions the greatest risk is a lack of new and improved treatment options," Golodner said. "This survey clearly shows that the public understand this, and wants to see patients and physicians more involved in the regulatory process so that they can make informed decisions on their course of treatment."
A summary of the report, "Public Attitudes towards Risk, Regulation, and Patient Voices in the Treatment of Chronic, Debilitating Conditions," is available at http://www.nclnet.org/.
About the survey
This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, between February 23-26, 2006, among a national probability sample of 1,029 adults.
The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3 percentage points. About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit http://www.nclnet.org/.
National Consumers League
CONTACT: Carol McKay of National Consumers League, +1-202-835-3323ext.114, or media@nclnet.org
Web site: http://www.nclnet.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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