CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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How reasonable are expectations that patients will participate in care decisions? The previous article in this series reviewed models of the patient-physician relationship and views on the extent to which patients want to be informed; it also described one information tool--the interactive videodisc. This article reviews literature on the extent to which patients wish to be involved in making decisions about their care. ⋯ The author suggests a distinction between two elements of choice: problem solving and decision making. This distinction helps in identifying appropriate roles for patient and provider, thereby leading to genuine shared decision making.
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To examine the extent prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used by elderly people in Alberta as well as the degree of concurrent use of multiple NSAIDs, of peptic ulcer medications and of certain medications known to have clinically significant adverse interactions with NSAIDs. ⋯ NSAIDs are prescribed frequently for elderly people and are associated with an increased likelihood of concurrent prescription of peptic ulcer medication and medications that could have adverse drug interactions with NSAIDs. Additional study is required to evaluate the appropriateness of NSAID use in elderly patients, to determine the degree of actual patient consumption of these medications, to document the true prevalence of clinically significant drug interactions and to formulate educational strategies to reach physicians with this information.