Table 2 Patients’ participation preferences related to general medicine, dentistry, and multiple sclerosis (MDQ with CPS as response scale) for all patients and stratified for setting. Lower scores indicate higher autonomy preference

General medicine

Assume you have a sore throat, nasal congestion and cough for the last three days. Who should make the following decisions?

1

Whether to run an x-ray of your chest?

3.2 (0.8)

3.2 (0.8)

3.2 (0.7)

3.2 (0.8)

.900

2

Whether to treat your condition with cough syrup?

2.8 (1.0)

3.1 (0.9)

2.7 (1.1)

2.7 (1.0)

.018

Assume that during routine examination a high blood pressure of 170/100 mmHg is measured. Who should make the following decisions?

3

Whether to undergo 24-h blood pressure monitoring?

3.5 (0.9)

3.4 (0.8)

3.5 (0.8)

3.5 (0.9)

.412

4

Whether to lower the blood pressure by use of drugs?

3.4 (0.8)

3.3 (0.8)

3.4 (0.8)

3.5 (0.9)

.144

Average over decisions in general medicine

3.2 (0.6)

3.3 (0.7)

3.2 (0.6)

3.1 (.6)

.273

Dentistry

Assume you have lost 1 to 3 teeth in the visible range and meet the dentist. Who should make the following decisions?

5

Whether to use local anesthesia?

2.7 (1.0)

2.7 (1.0)

2.9 (0.9)

2.4 (1.0)

.002

6

Whether to apply diagnostic radiology?

3.6 (0.9)

3.6 (1.0)

3.7 (0.8)

3.5 (0.8)

.101

7

Whether and which treatment of your tooth loss is suitable?

2.7 (0.9)

2.7 (0.8)

2.8 (0.8)

2.7 (0.9)

.354

Average over decisions in dentistry

3.0 (0.7)

3.0 (0.7)

3.1 (0.6)

2.8 (0.7)

.010

Multiple sclerosis

Who should make the following decisions on your chronic disease?

8

Whether and which immunotherapy to use as long-term treatment?

3.1 (0.8)

n/a

n/a

3.1 (0.8)

n/a

9

Whether to Magnet Resonance Imaging is needed?

3.5 (0.8)

n/a

n/a

3.5 (0.8)

n/a

10

Whether to use steroid treatment to manage an acute relapse?

3.2 (0.9)

n/a

n/a

3.2 (0.9)

n/a

Average over decisions in multiple sclerosis

3.2 (0.7)

n/a

n/a

3.2 (0.7)

n/a

Total

3.1 (0.6)

3.1 (0.6)

3.2 (0.5)

3.1 (0.6)

.302