New National Survey Shows Almost a Third of Second Medical Opinions Result in Different Treatments

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – March 17, 2005 – More than a quarter (29%) of U.S. adults report that they or a member of their family received a second medical opinion from a doctor in the past five years. In the majority of cases, this second opinion either confirmed the initial diagnosis or treatment (54%), or while different, did not change the treatment (16%). However, in fully 30 percent of cases where a second opinion was obtained, the diagnosis differed from the original, and as a result, the treatment or care was different from what it would have been without the second opinion.

These are some of the results of a Harris Interactive^? online survey of 2,137 U.S. adults conducted between March 4 and 8, 2005 for The Wall Street Journal Online’s Health Industry Edition.

Of those who received a second medical opinion from another doctor, half (50%) said that they obtained one because they wanted to have as much information as possible. Other reasons for getting a second opinion included:

• The diagnosis was very serious (38%);
• The doctor who made the initial diagnosis suggested a second opinion (34%);
• Was not confident about the initial diagnosis (34%);
• There were several treatment options to choose from (25%);
• Did not trust the doctor who made the initial diagnosis (16%);
• The initial diagnosis was confusing (13%);
• Health insurance required a second opinion (10%); and
• Some other reason (9%).

Of the 71 percent of all adults and their families who have not received a second opinion from another doctor in the past five years, the most common reasons for deciding not to get one were that they trusted the doctor who made the diagnosis (39%) and that they felt confident about the initial diagnosis. Nearly (46%) said that a second opinion from another doctor just wasn’t necessary.

"Has there been a time in the past five years when you or a member of your family was diagnosed with a medical problem for which you got a second medical opinion from another doctor?"

Base: All Adults

"Patients and their family members get second opinions for a variety of reasons. Why did you/your family member decide to get a second opinion on the last occasion this happened?"

Base: Received a Second Opinion from Another Doctor

Note: Multiple-response question.

"The last time you/your family member received a second opinion, which of the following best describes what happened?"

Base: Received a Second Opinion from Another Doctor

"Patients and their family members decide not to get a second opinion for a variety of reasons, why did you/your family member decide not to get a second opinion?"

Base: Did Not Receive a Second Opinion from Another Doctor

Note: Multiple-response question.

Q905, Q910, Q915, Q920

Downloadable PDFs of Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Polls are posted at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters_wsj.asp.

This poll was conducted online in the United States between March 4 and 8, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 2,137 adults aged 18 and over. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error for the results of adults or their family members who received a second opinion in the past five years (664) is plus or minus 6 percentage points and for the results of adults or their family members who have not received a second opinion in the past five years (1,473) is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. This includes refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and question order, and weighting. It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online sample was not a probability sample.

The Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll is an exclusive poll that is published in the award-winning Health Industry Edition of The Wall Street Journal Online at www.wsj.com/health.

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Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), the 15^th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll^? and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

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