The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare patients' and physicians' opinions about the assurance of patients' right to information about the disease, the results of medical examination, treatment methods and their outcomes.
Material and methods: The study was performed during November 2006-February 2007 in two counties of Lithuania. Seven hospitals were randomly selected for the study. The participants of the study were all patients who on the day of the inquiry were treated in the departments of internal diseases and surgery and all physicians who worked in these departments on that day. Patients with severe conditions and those who were newly admitted were excluded from the study. In total, 494 questionnaires were distributed, of which 366 were distributed among patients (response rate--71.3%) and 128 among physicians (response rate--70.3%).
Results: One-half of the inquired patients (50.9%) did not know what rights they are guaranteed by the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Rights of Patients and Compensation of the Damage to Their Health. However, the majority of patients thought that they were provided information about their disease (86.1%), the results of medical examination (76.2%), the methods of treatment (74.2%), and possible positive and negative consequences (65.2%). The comparison of patients' and physicians' evaluation of the provided information revealed certain differences. Physicians were inclined to evaluate themselves better. More than one-half (65.5%) of physicians stated that they provided patients with information concerning the possibility for their participation in treatment-related decision-making, but patients did not participate sufficiently actively (34.5% of positive responses) in making heath-related decisions.
Conclusions: Patients are not very well informed about the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Rights of Patients and Compensation of the Damage to Their Health. The majority of patients in the studied general hospitals stated that they were provided with and understood information about their disease, the results of medical examination, and treatment methods and prognosis. The study showed that only one-third of patients expressed their opinion to the physician when making treatment-related decisions, and their opinion was taken into consideration.