Session II: implications for clinical practice

4. Risk…definitions and context

Adrian Edwards

Lecturer in General Practice, University of Wales College of Medicine

As the first step in shared decision making, effective communication of risk is essential. Professor Edwards discussed the skills needed and issues to be aware of, and gave examples of visual tools that can aid communication of risk.

Risk communication has been described as ‘the open two-way exchange of information and opinion about risk, leading to better understanding and better (clinical) decisions’.

In communicating risk, it is important that information is provided in a format suitable for the individual, and that the practitioner checks both the individual’s understanding and their reaction to the information. Acknowledging the uncertainty around risk information is key to maintaining trust in practitioner / patient relationships.

Visual tools can greatly aid understanding of what risk categories mean. Professor Edwards provided examples using a smiley/sad faces graphic to illustrate breast cancer risks. Common analogies such as rolling dice and flipping coins can be extremely useful even without actual physical aids.

Delegates were referred to a recent themed issue of the British Medical Journal “Communicating Risks – illusion or truth?”, 27 September 2003.