The demand for clinical information and for involvement in medical treatment decision making: An empirical examination in the general population

A sample of 2500 persons from the general population is used to investigate the stated demand for information about optional treatments, the demand for involvement in the treatment decision making, and the relationships between them. The results show that both clinical information and involvement are normal goods, and support the view that the value of information stems from its practical use in decision making rather than from “unknown aversion”. The demand for information is derived from the demand for involvement, with persons who declare they want to take an active part in the medical treatment choice, showing greater demand for the clinical information about the optional treatments. This conclusion is valid, however, for the general population, which uses mainly ambulatory care, and needs further examination among sick patients with actual need for inpatient or critical treatment.