Debate & Analysis: Medical decision making and the importance of baseline risk

摘要

INTRODUCTION: There is general, consensus that individual medical decisions should be made through a shared process between a patient and their clinician(s) with the goal of reaching a choice consistent with the patient's wishes. The process asks clinicians to translate, in an understandable manner, the available knowledge that may affect a patient's decision. Our message is that the baseline risk (BR) for the outcome of primary interest is necessary information for any treatment decision, yet often ignored in discussions regarding medical decision making.