The Article in Brief

Background: This study looked at whether patients who felt that they were treated with dignity were more satisfied with their medical care, more likely to follow medical advice, and whether they received appropriate preventive medical tests (such as mammograms and cholesterol tests).
What This Study Found: Patients who were treated with dignity and who were involved in decisions about their health care treatment were more satisfied with their care, more likely to follow medical advice, and more likely to receive preventive medical services. White patients who were involved in decisions were more likely to follow medical advice. Racial and ethnic minorities were more likely to follow medical advice if they were treated with dignity.
Implications:
• It is important for doctors to not only involve their patients in decisions but also to treat them with dignity.
• Involving patients in decision making is not necessarily the same as treating them with dignity and respect. Both are important to patients.