Table 1

Factor structure after exploratory factor analysis (n = 144)*

	Factor
	I	II	III	IV
*Only factor loadings greater than 0.3 are displayed.
20. The doctor can presume that the patient knows that people can die during serious operations.	0.78
16. If doctor and patient cannot agree on which treatment is best, the doctor should make the final decision.	0.76	−0.32
18. The patient should, without much information on the risk involved, confidently undergo an operation.	0.75
12. During the conversation, the patient must submit himself with confidence to the expertise of the doctor.	0.65			0.43
4. It is better that the doctor rather than the patient decides which the best treatment is.	0.64	−0.47
1. The doctor must choose the treatment with the least health risk, even when the patient wants a treatment with more health risks.	0.57
8. Every patient is obliged to actively think about the appropriate treatment.	0.41	0.35	−0.35	−0.39
22. As it concerns the body and life of the patient, the patient should decide.		0.74
13. The patient himself must choose between the various treatments.		0.67
19. It goes too far when the doctor decides which treatment is best for the patient.		0.58
21. If a patient chooses a treatment with more health risks, the doctor should respect this treatment decision.		0.57
10. It goes too far when patients themselves have to decide which treatment is best for them.		−0.35
11. Patients should have the right not to be involved in the decision on the treatment.			0.74
15. Patients who become afraid when thinking about the treatment decision should be left in peace by the doctor.			0.72
3. If the patient does not want to receive information about risks the doctor should respect this.			0.65
14. Before a patient consents to a treatment he should receive all information on the risks involved.				0.84
5. The patient has to be informed on all the risks involved in an operation.				0.75