2013 Volume 33 Pages 59-68
The purpose of this study was to investigate how medical consumers can protect themselves by employing an active agenda of 'rights and responsibilities'. Furthermore, it explores how an active medical consumer model can be developed within a consumer education program. In order to construct the active guidelines based on rights and responsibilities, the researchers investigated inquiry counters in prefectural medical safety support centers - which hold a neutral position between patients and medical workers - and staff working at citizen advice centers (clerical staff, nurses and health nurses, pharmacists, doctors and dentists). A survey was sent to 297 centers (excluding some areas) and 1,188 individuals. There was a valid response of 334 individuals (28.1%). The active agenda was arrived at by dividing responses to the 78 survey elements related to consumer rights and responsibilities into 3 categories: "there is a right", "there is a responsibility", "there is both a right and a responsibility". In terms of the specific character of the guidelines, results revealed the behavior range related to rights and responsibilities is ambiguous, greater importance is attached to holding responsibility, than having rights and the exchange of detailed information about treatments between patients and medical workers is very important to both parties. In order to develop a consumer education integrated with medical safety and the informational filed, it is necessary to innovate the current approach by compartmentalizing, specializing and broadening the content of active guidelines related to every subject in the existing curriculum. Through practicing such an educational approach medical consumers can develop consciousness of their role as one illuminated through a conception of active right and responsibilities.
