Development and pilot testing of a decision aid for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Cognitive and psychological impact of BRCA genetic counseling in before and after definitive surgery breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

To examine changes in cancer-related knowledge, distress, and decisional conflict from pre- to post-genetic counseling (GC) in before (BDS) and after (ADS) definitive surgery breast cancer (BC) patients.

METHODS

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected at baseline; primary outcome data were collected before (T1) and after (T2) pretest GC. Within group changes for cancer-related knowledge, distress, and decisional conflict over genetic testing were compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

RESULTS

Of 103 BC patients, 87 were ADS and 16 were BDS. Analyses revealed that both groups reported significant increases in knowledge between T1 and T2 (median change 4.2, p = 0.004, and 2.7, p < 0.001, for BDS and ADS patients, respectively). Overall cancer-related distress showed a downward trend between T1 and T2 for both groups and was significant for BDS patients (p = 0.041). Reports of BDS patients trended toward overall and subscale-specific increases in decisional conflict, with the exception of the uncertainty which trended downward, but did not reach significance. Overall decisional conflict decreased in ADS patients, approaching marginal significance (p = 0.056), with significant improvements in informed decision making (median change -12.6, p < 0.001; i.e., pretest GC yielded improved knowledge of benefits, risks, and side effects of available options).

CONCLUSIONS

These pilot data suggest that pretest GC increases cancer-related knowledge for both BDS and ADS patients, decreases distress in BDS patients, and improves informed decision making in ADS patients. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to replicate these results.

The relationships among knowledge, self-efficacy, preparedness, decisional conflict, and decisions to participate in a cancer clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Cancer clinical trials (CCTs) are important tools in the development of improved cancer therapies; yet, participation is low. Key psychosocial barriers exist that appear to impact a patient's decision to participate. Little is known about the relationship among knowledge, self-efficacy, preparation, decisional conflict, and patient decisions to take part in CCTs.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine if preparation for consideration of a CCT as a treatment option mediates the relationship between knowledge, self-efficacy, and decisional conflict. We also explored whether lower levels of decisional conflict are associated with greater likelihood of CCT enrollment.

METHOD

In a pre-post test intervention study, cancer patients (N = 105) were recruited before their initial consultation with a medical oncologist. A brief educational intervention was provided for all patients. Patient self-report survey responses assessed knowledge, self-efficacy, preparation for clinical trial participation, decisional conflict, and clinical trial participation.

RESULTS

Preparation was found to mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and decisional conflict (p = 0.003 for a test of the indirect mediational pathway for the decisional conflict total score). Preparation had a more limited role in mediating the effect of knowledge on decisional conflict. Further, preliminary evidence indicated that reduced decisional conflict was associated with increased clinical trial enrollment (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

When patients feel greater CCT self-efficacy and have more knowledge, they feel more prepared to make a CCT decision. Reduced decisional conflict, in turn, is associated with the decision to enroll in a clinical trial. Our results suggest that preparation for decision-making should be a target of future interventions to improve participation in CCTs.

The decision making control instrument to assess voluntary consent

BACKGROUND

The decision to participate in a research intervention or to undergo medical treatment should be both informed and voluntary.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to develop an instrument to measure the perceived voluntariness of parents making decisions for their seriously ill children.

METHODS

A total of 219 parents completed questionnaires within 10 days of making such a decision at a large, urban tertiary care hospital for children. Parents were presented with an experimental form of the Decision Making Control Instrument (DMCI), a measure of the perception of voluntariness. Data obtained from the 28-item form were analyzed using a combination of both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques.

RESULTS

The 28 items were reduced to 9 items representing 3 oblique dimensions: Self-Control, Absence of Control, and Others' Control. The hypothesis that the 3-factor covariance structure of our model was consistent with that of the data was supported. Internal consistency for the scale as a whole was high (0.83); internal consistency for the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.87. DMCI scores were associated with measures of affect, trust, and decision self-efficacy, supporting the construct validity of the new instrument.

CONCLUSION

The DMCI is an important new tool that can be used to inform our understanding of the voluntariness of treatment and research decisions in medical settings.

Decision making for depression treatment during pregnancy and the postpartum period

BACKGROUND

To explore women's perspectives about the treatment decision-making process for depression during pregnancy and after birth.

METHOD

One hundred pregnant and postpartum women completed an anonymous web-based surveys regarding treatment decision making for depression.

RESULTS

Survey data reveal that most women in this sample prefer an active collaborative role in treatment decision making for depression. Sixty-five percent of the sample made a decision for treatment of their major depressive disorder, including a decision for no treatment, and 34% reported not having made a decision or feeling unsure about their decision. More than half of the sample preferred combination treatment with medications and counseling (55%) followed by counseling (22%), no treatment (8%), and medications (8%). Overall, respondents in this sample had low levels of decisional conflict (uncertainty) with younger women in the sample reporting higher levels of decisional conflict.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment decision making for depression during the perinatal period is complex. Asking women about their preferences for participation in decision making, their treatment preferences and their decision making needs during the clinical encounter may lead to improved communication, decision making and quality of care.

Decision to take osteoporosis medication in patients who have had a fracture and are 'high' risk for future fracture: a qualitative study

Background

Patients' values and preferences are fundamental tenets of evidence-based practice, yet current osteoporosis (OP) clinical guidelines pay little attention to these issues in therapeutic decision making. This may be in part due to the fact that few studies have examined the factors that influence the initial decision to take OP medication. The purpose of our study was to examine patients' experiences with the decision to take OP medication after they sustained a fracture.

Methods

A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with outpatients identified in a university teaching hospital fracture clinic OP program. Individuals aged 65+ who had sustained a fragility fracture within 5 years, were 'high risk' for future fracture, and were prescribed OP medication were eligible. Analysis of interview data was guided by Giorgi's methodology.

Results

21 patients (6 males, 15 females) aged 65-88 years participated. All participants had low bone mass; 9 had OP. Fourteen patients were taking a bisphosphonate while 7 patients were taking no OP medications. For 12 participants, the decision to take OP medication occurred at the time of prescription and involved minimal contemplation (10/12 were on medication). These patients made their decision because they liked/trusted their health care provider. However, 4/10 participants in this group indicated their OP medication-taking status might change. For the remaining 9 patients, the decision was more difficult (4/9 were on medication). These patients were unconvinced by their health care provider, engaged in risk-benefit analyses using other information sources, and were concerned about side effects; 7/9 patients indicated that their OP medication-taking status might change at a later date.

Conclusions

Almost half of our older patients who had sustained a fracture found the decision to take OP medication a difficult one. In general, the decision was not considered permanent. Health care providers should be aware of their potential role in patients' decisions and monitor patients' decisions over time.

Development and pilot-testing of a Decision Aid for use among Chinese women facing breast cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Women choosing breast cancer surgery encounter treatment decision-making (TDM) difficulties, which can cause psychological distress. Decision Aids (DAs) may facilitate TDM, but there are no DAs designed for Chinese populations. We developed a DA for Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, for use during the initial surgical consultation.

AIMS

Conduct a pilot study to assess the DA acceptability and utility among Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer.

METHODS

Women preferred the DA in booklet format. A booklet was developed and revised and evaluated in two consecutive pilot studies (P1 and P2). On concluding their initial diagnostic consultation, 95 and 38 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer received the draft and revised draft DA booklet, respectively. Four-day post-consultation, women had questionnaires read out to them and to which they responded assessing attitudes towards the DA and their understanding of treatment options.

RESULTS

The original DA was read/partially read by 66/22% (n = 84) of women, whilst the revised version was read/partially read by 74/16% (n = 35), including subliterate women (χ(2) = 0.76, P = 0.679). Knowledge scores varied with the extent the booklet was read (P1: F = 12.68, d.f. 2, P < 0.001; P2: F = 3.744, d.f. 2, P = 0.034). The revised, shorter version was graphically rich and resulted in improved perceived utility, [except for the 'treatment options' (χ(2) = 5.50, P = 0.019) and 'TDM guidance' (χ(2) = 8.19, P = 0.004) sections] without increasing anxiety (F = 0.689, P = 0.408; F = 3.45, P = 0.073).

CONCLUSION

The DA was perceived as acceptable and useful for most women. The DA effectiveness is currently being evaluated using a randomized controlled trial.

Nurse case-manager vs multifaceted intervention to improve quality of osteoporosis care after wrist fracture: randomized controlled pilot study

Few outpatients with fractures are treated for osteoporosis in the years following fracture. In a randomized pilot study, we found a nurse case-manager could double rates of osteoporosis testing and treatment compared with a proven efficacious quality improvement strategy directed at patients and physicians (57% vs 28% rates of appropriate care).

INTRODUCTION

Few patients with fractures are treated for osteoporosis. An intervention directed at wrist fracture patients (education) and physicians (guidelines, reminders) tripled osteoporosis treatment rates compared to controls (22% vs 7% within 6 months of fracture). More effective strategies are needed.

METHODS

We undertook a pilot study that compared a nurse case-manager to the multifaceted intervention using a randomized trial design. The case-manager counseled patients, arranged bone mineral density (BMD) tests, and prescribed treatments. We included controls from our first trial who remained untreated for osteoporosis 1-year post-fracture. Primary outcome was bisphosphonate treatment and secondary outcomes were BMD testing, appropriate care (BMD test-treatment if bone mass low), and costs.

RESULTS

Forty six patients untreated 1-year after wrist fracture were randomized to case-manager (n = 21) or multifaceted intervention (n = 25). Median age was 60 years and 68% were female. Six months post-randomization, 9 (43%) case-managed patients were treated with bisphosphonates compared with 3 (12%) multifaceted intervention patients (relative risk [RR] 3.6, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.1-11.5, p = 0.019). Case-managed patients were more likely than multifaceted intervention patients to undergo BMD tests (81% vs 52%, RR 1.6, 95%CI 1.1-2.4, p = 0.042) and receive appropriate care (57% vs 28%, RR 2.0, 95%CI 1.0-4.2, p = 0.048). Case-management cost was $44 (CDN) per patient vs $12 for the multifaceted intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A nurse case-manager substantially increased rates of appropriate testing and treatment for osteoporosis in patients at high-risk of future fracture when compared with a multifaceted quality improvement intervention aimed at patients and physicians. Even with case-management, nearly half of patients did not receive appropriate care.

TRIAL REGISTRY

clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00152321.

Development of a decision aid for adult cystic fibrosis patients considering referral for lung transplantation

CONTEXT

Most adults with cystic fibrosis are eventually required to make a decision about referral for lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the decisional needs of these patients and to develop a decision aid to address these needs.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature, a review of Canadian transplant statistics from 2002 to 2006, and a self-assessment survey of patients who had already made a decision about referral were performed to identify the decisional needs of patients. A decision aid was then developed and evaluated by an expert panel of health care professionals and patients.

RESULTS

Transplant referral patterns vary widely among Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics. Canadian patients with cystic fibrosis who were not residing in transplant centers between 2002 and 2006 were significantly less likely to undergo lung transplants (P < .001). Decisional needs identified by patients included wanting more information on (1) relocation to the transplant center, (2) the benefits and risks of surgery, and (3) how to cope with anxiety and depression when making the decision. In response to these identified needs, a decision aid for lung transplantation was developed. A panel of health care professionals and patients reviewed the decision aid and agreed that the content was appropriate, easy to understand, and unbiased.

CONCLUSION

The decisional needs of patients with cystic fibrosis who are considering lung transplantation are not being addressed in Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics, especially in clinics outside of transplant centers. An evidence-based decision aid could serve as a useful tool to help address these needs.

Development of a Decision Aid for Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients considering Referral for Lung Transplantation

Context

Most adults with cystic fibrosis are eventually required to make a decision about referral for lung transplantation.

Objective

To identify the decisional needs of these patients and to develop a decision aid to address these needs.

Methods

A comprehensive review of the literature, a review of Canadian transplant statistics from 2002 to 2006, and a self-assessment survey of patients who had already made a decision about referral were performed to identify the decisional needs of patients. A decision aid was then developed and evaluated by an expert panel of health care professionals and patients.

Results

Transplant referral patterns vary widely among Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics. Canadian patients with cystic fibrosis who were not residing in transplant centers between 2002 and 2006 were significantly less likely to undergo lung transplants ( P < .001). Decisional needs identified by patients included wanting more information on (1) relocation to the transplant center, (2) the benefits and risks of surgery, and (3) how to cope with anxiety and depression when making the decision. In response to these identified needs, a decision aid for lung transplantation was developed. A panel of health care professionals and patients reviewed the decision aid and agreed that the content was appropriate, easy to understand, and unbiased.

Conclusion

The decisional needs of patients with cystic fibrosis who are considering lung transplantation are not being addressed in Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics, especially in clinics outside of transplant centers. An evidence-based decision aid could serve as a useful tool to help address these needs.

Protocol for the Osteoporosis Choice trial. A pilot randomized trial of a decision aid in primary care practice

Background

Bisphosphonates can reduce fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis, but many at-risk patients do not start or adhere to these medications. The aims of this study are to: (1) preliminarily evaluate the effect of an individualized 10-year osteoporotic fracture risk calculator and decision aid (OSTEOPOROSIS CHOICE) for postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporotic fractures; and (2) assess the feasibility and validity (i.e., absence of contamination) of patient-level randomization (vs. cluster randomization) in pilot trials of decision aid efficacy.

Methods/Design

This is a protocol for a parallel, 2-arm, randomized trial to compare an intervention group receiving OSTEOPOROSIS CHOICE to a control group receiving usual primary care. Postmenopausal women with bone mineral density T-scores of <-1.0, not receiving bisphosphonate therapy, and receiving care at participating primary care practices in and around Rochester, Minnesota, USA will be eligible to participate in the trial. We will measure the effect of OSTEOPOROSIS CHOICE on five outcomes: (a) patient knowledge regarding osteoporosis risk factors and treatment; (b) quality of the decision-making process for both the patient and clinician; (c) patient and clinician acceptability and satisfaction with the decision aid; (d) rate of bisphosphonate use and adherence, and (e) trial processes (e.g., ability to recruit participants, collect patient outcomes). To capture these outcomes, we will use patient and clinician surveys following each visit and video recordings of the clinical encounters. These video recordings will also allow us to determine the extent to which clinicians previously exposed to the decision aid were able to recreate elements of the decision aid with control patients (i.e., contamination). Pharmacy prescription profiles and follow-up phone interviews will assess medication start and adherence at 6 months.

Discussion

This pilot trial will provide evidence of feasibility, validity of patient randomization, and preliminary efficacy of a novel approach -- decision aids -- to improving medication adherence for postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporotic fractures. The results will inform the design of a larger trial that could provide more precise estimates of the efficacy of the decision aid.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT00578981

Challenges in measuring a new construct: perception of voluntariness for research and treatment decision making

RELIABLE AND VALID MEASURES OF RELEVANT constructs are critical in the developing field of the empirical study of research ethics. The early phases of scale development for such constructs can be complex. We describe the methodological challenges of construct definition and operationalization and how we addressed them in our study to develop a measure of perception of voluntariness. We also briefly present our conceptual approach to the construct of voluntariness, which we defined as the perception of control over decision making. Our multifaceted approach to scale development ensured that we would develop a construct definition of sufficient breadth and depth, that our new measure of voluntariness would be applicable across disciplines, and that there was a clear link between our construct definition and items. The strategies discussed here can be adapted by other researchers who are considering a scale development study related to the empirical study of ethics.

A computer-tailored intervention to promote informed decision making for prostate cancer screening among African American men

African American men experience a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer (CaP) morbidity and mortality. National screening guidelines advise men to make individualized screening decisions through a process termed informed decision making (IDM). In this pilot study, a computer-tailored decision-aid designed to promote IDM was evaluated using a pre-/posttest design. African American men aged 40 years and older were recruited from a variety of community settings (n = 108). At pretest, 43% of men reported having made a screening decision; at posttest 47% reported this to be the case (p = .39). Significant improvements were observed between pre- and posttest on scores of knowledge, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict. Men were also more likely to want an active role in decision making after using the tool. These results suggest that use of a computer-tailored decision aid is a promising strategy to promote IDM for CaP screening among African American men.

Patient perspectives with abbreviated versus standard pre-test HIV counseling in the prenatal setting: a randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

In the US, an unacceptably high percentage of pregnant women do not undergo prenatal HIV testing. Previous studies have found increased uptake of prenatal HIV testing with abbreviated pre-test counseling, however little is known about patient decision making, testing satisfaction and knowledge in this setting.

METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS

A randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial was conducted from October 2006 through February 2008 at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), the public teaching hospital of the City and County of San Francisco. A total of 278 English- and Spanish-speaking pregnant women were randomized to receive either abbreviated or standard nurse-performed HIV test counseling at the initial prenatal visit. Patient decision making experience was compared between abbreviated versus standard HIV counseling strategies among a sample of low-income, urban, ethnically diverse prenatal patients. The primary outcome was the decisional conflict score (DCS) using O'Connor low-literacy scale and secondary outcomes included satisfaction with test decision, basic HIV knowledge and HIV testing uptake. We conducted an intention-to-treat analysis of 278 women--134 (48.2%) in the abbreviated arm (AA) and 144 (51.8%) in the standard arm (SA). There was no significant difference in the proportion of women with low decisional conflict (71.6% in AA vs. 76.4% in SA, p = .37), and the observed mean difference between the groups of 3.88 (95% CI: -0.65, 8.41) did not exceed the non-inferiority margin. HIV testing uptake was very high (97. 8%) and did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (99.3% in AA vs. 96.5% in SA, p = .12). Likewise, there was no difference in satisfaction with testing decision (97.8% in AA vs. 99.3% in SA, p = .36). However, women in AA had significantly lower mean HIV knowledge scores (78.4%) compared to women in SA (83.7%, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

This study suggests that streamlining the pre-test counseling process, while associated with slightly lower knowledge, does not compromise patient decision making or satisfaction regarding HIV testing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00503308.

Effectiveness of Decision Aids

Increased interest in health care consumerism has created an environment conducive to growth in the use of decision aids (DAs) to support patient decision making. The authors review the research literature published within the past 5 years that assesses the effects of DAs in the areas of screening and treatment. Multiple measures are used to evaluate the effectiveness of DAs, with mixed evidence of impacts. To date, most evidence from screening studies suggests that DAs are effective in increasing knowledge and are acceptable to patients, but patient uptake of screening has been mixed. Among treatment studies, there is some, but limited, evidence showing impact of DAs on immediate and long-term decisional conflict, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. Few studies provide assessment of impact on health outcomes, quality of care, utilization, or costs, all areas likely to be of growing interest to private purchasers, insurers, and public programs.

Monitoring the implementation of Consultation Planning, Recording, and Summarizing in a breast care center

OBJECTIVE

We implemented and monitored a clinical service, Consultation Planning, Recording and Summarizing (CPRS), in which trained facilitators elicit patient questions for doctors, and then audio-record, and summarize the doctor-patient consultations.

METHODS

We trained 8 schedulers to offer CPRS to breast cancer patients making treatment decisions, and trained 14 premedical interns to provide the service. We surveyed a convenience sample of patients regarding their self-efficacy and decisional conflict. We solicited feedback from physicians, schedulers, and CPRS staff on our implementation of CPRS.

RESULTS

278 patients used CPRS over the 22-month study period, an exploitation rate of 32% compared to our capacity. 37 patients responded to surveys, providing pilot data showing improvements in self-efficacy and decisional conflict. Physicians, schedulers, and premedical interns recommended changes in the program's locations; delivery; products; and screening, recruitment and scheduling processes.

CONCLUSION

Our monitoring of this implementation found elements of success while surfacing recommendations for improvement.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

We made changes based on study findings. We moved Consultation Planning to conference rooms or telephone sessions; shortened the documents produced by CPRS staff; diverted slack resources to increase recruitment efforts; and obtained a waiver of consent in order to streamline and improve ongoing evaluation.

Preferences of older and younger adults with serious mental illness for involvement in decision-making in medical and psychiatric settings

OBJECTIVES

There is a growing call for greater consumer participation in health care encounters. Prior research suggests that older age is associated with a greater preference for a more passive role in clinical decision-making, yet little is known about preferences for persons with mental illness. This pilot study compared preferences for involvement in decision-making between older and younger adults with serious mental illness.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The authors surveyed 33 older adults (>or=50 years) and 32 younger adults (<50 years) with serious mental illness from two mental health center clinics and one residential facility for their preferences on decision-making with their psychiatrists and primary care providers.

MEASUREMENTS

Measures included the Control Preferences Scale, the Autonomy Preference Index, and the Decision Self-Efficacy Scale.

RESULTS

Contrary to our primary hypothesis, older adults reported a stronger desire for involvement in decision-making compared with younger adults. However, both age groups were similar in their desire for information to aid in decision-making. The majority in both age groups also preferred a collaborative role with a psychiatrist for medication decisions, an autonomous role for decisions related to psychosocial interventions, and a passive role with their primary care provider. Older and younger adults expressed similar decision self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that older persons with serious mental illness have a stronger desire for involvement in decision-making than younger consumers. Additionally, role preference for involvement in decision-making varies across different clinical decisions and for psychopharmacological versus psychosocial interventions.

Where is the theory? Evaluating the theoretical frameworks described in decision support technologies

OBJECTIVE

To identify and describe the extent to which theory or theoretical frameworks informed the development and evaluation of decision support technologies (DSTs).

METHODS

The analysis was based on the decision technologies used in studies included in the Cochrane systematic review of patient decision aids for people facing health screening or treatment decisions. The assumption was made that DSTs evaluated by randomized controlled trials, and therefore included in the updated Cochrane review have been the most rigorously developed.

RESULTS

Of the 50 DSTs evaluated only 17 (34%) were based on a theoretical framework. Amongst these, 11 decision-making theories were described but the extent to which theory informed the development, field-testing and evaluation of these interventions was highly variable between DSTs. The majority of the 17 DSTs that relied on a theory was not explicit about how theory had guided their design and evaluation. Many had superficial descriptions of the theory or theories involved. Furthermore, based on the analysis of those 17 DSTs, none had reported field-testing prior to evaluation.

CONCLUSION

The use of decision-making theory in DST development is rare and poorly described. The lack of theoretical underpinning to the design and development of DSTs most likely reflects the early development stage of the DST field.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The findings clearly indicate the need to give more attention to how the most important decision-making theories could be better used to guide the design of key decision support components and their modes of action.

Online psychoeducational support for infertile women: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The study goal was to develop and test the effectiveness of a brief online education and support program for female infertility patients.

METHODS

A randomized-controlled trial was conducted. Using a Solomon-four group design, 190 female patients were recruited from three US fertility centers and were randomized into two experimental and two no-treatment control groups. The psychological outcomes assessed included infertility distress, infertility self-efficacy, decisional conflict, marital cohesion and coping style. Program dosage and satisfaction were also assessed at four weeks follow-up.

RESULTS

Women exposed to the online program significantly improved in the area of social concerns (P = 0.038) related to infertility distress, and felt more informed about a medical decision with which they were contending (P = 0.037). Trends were observed for decreased global stress(P = 0.10), sexual concerns (P = 0.059), distress related to child-free living (P = 0.063), increased infertility self-efficacy (P = 0.067) and decision making clarity (P = 0.079). A dosage response was observed in the experimental groups for women who spent >60 min online for decreased global stress (P = 0.028) and increased self efficacy (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

This evidence-based eHealth program for women experiencing infertility suggests that a web-based patient education intervention can have beneficial effects in several psychological domains and may be a cost effective resource for fertility practices.

Rethinking the objectives of decision aids: a call for conceptual clarity

Health decision aids are a potentially valuable adjunct to patient-physician communication and decision making. Although the overarching goal of decision aids--to help patients make informed, preference-sensitive choices--is widely accepted, experts do not agree on the means to achieve this end. In this article, the authors critically examine the theoretical basis and appropriateness of 2 widely accepted criteria used to evaluate decision aids: values clarification and reduction of decisional conflict. First, they argue that although clarifying values is central to decision making under uncertainty, it is not clear that decision aids--as they have been conceived and operationalized so far--can and should be used to achieve this goal. The pursuit of clarifying values, particularly values clarification exercises, raises a number of ethical, methodological, and conceptual issues, and the authors suggest research questions that should be addressed before values clarification is routinely endorsed. Second, the authors argue that the goal of reducing decisional conflict is conceptually untenable and propose that it be eliminated as an objective of decision aids.

A systematic review of information in decision aids

OBJECTIVE

We completed a systematic review of information reported as included in decision aids (DAs) for adult patients, to determine if it is complete, balanced and accurate.

SEARCH STRATEGY

DAs were identified using the Cochrane Database of DAs and searches of four electronic databases using the terms: 'decision aid'; shared decision making' and 'patients'; 'multimedia or leaflets or pamphlets or videos and patients and decision making'. Additionally, publications reporting DA development and actual DAs that were reported as publicly available on the Internet were consulted. Publications were included up to May 2006.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted on the following variables: external groups consulted in development of the DA, type of study used, categories of information, inclusion of probabilities, use of citation lists and inclusion of patient experiences.

MAIN RESULTS

68 treatment DAs and 30 screening DAs were identified. 17% of treatment DAs and 47% of screening DAs did not report any external consultation and, of those that did, DA producers tended to rely more heavily on medical experts than on patients' guidance. Content evaluations showed that (i) treatment DAs frequently omit describing the procedure(s) involved in treatment options and (ii) screening DAs frequently focus on false positives but not false negatives. About 1/2 treatment DAs reported probabilities with a greater emphasis on potential benefits than harms. Similarly, screening DAs were more likely to provide false-positive than false-negative rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The review led us to be concerned about completeness, balance and accuracy of information included in DAs.

The relationship of nondirectiveness to genetic counseling: report of a workshop at the 2003 NSGC Annual Education Conference

Nondirectiveness has been a guiding principle for genetic counseling since the founding of the profession. However, its efficacy and appropriateness in this role have been frequently questioned. A workshop at the 2003 Annual Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors provided audience participation in a discussion of these issues. Participants presented arguments for and against nondirectiveness as a central ethos. They described complex personal transitions in adapting what they had learned about nondirectiveness during training to the realities of the workplace. There was support for flexible approaches to genetic counseling, with varying adherence to nondirectiveness, based on client and family needs and values, clinical circumstances, and desired counseling outcomes. The discussion supports the use of clinical experience, outcomes research, and the experience of other professions to move beyond nondirectiveness and more accurately identify the theoretical bases that underlie genetic counseling in the variety of circumstances in which it is currently practiced.

Primary health care professionals' views on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the Ottawa Decision Support Framework in practice

OBJECTIVE

To describe primary health care professionals' views on barriers and facilitators for implementing the Ottawa Decision Support Framework (ODSF) in their practice.

METHODS

Thirteen focus groups with 118 primary health care professionals were performed. A taxonomy of barriers and facilitators to implementing clinical practice guidelines was used to content-analyse the following sources: reports from each workshop, field notes from the principal investigator and written materials collected from the participants.

RESULTS

Applicability of the ODSF to the practice population, process outcome expectation, asking patients about their preferred role in decision making, perception that the ODSF was modifiable, time issues, familiarity with the ODSF and its practicability were the most frequently identified both as barriers as well as facilitators. Forgetting about the ODSF, interpretation of evidence, challenge to autonomy and total lack of agreement with using the ODSF in general were identified only as barriers. Asking about values, health professional's outcome expectation, compatibility with the patient-centered approach or the evidence-based approach, ease of understanding and implementation, and ease of communicating the ODSF were identified only as facilitators.

CONCLUSION

These results provide insight on the type of interventions that could be developed in order to implement the ODSF in academic primary care practice.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Interventions to implement the ODSF in primary care practice will need to address a broad range of factors at the levels of the health professionals, the patients and the health care system.

An evaluation of the Decisional Conflict Scale for measuring the quality of end-of-life decision making

OBJECTIVE

Researchers and clinicians acknowledge the complexity of planning for future medical treatment desired in the event of incapacitation. Unfortunately, many attempts to evaluate the quality of such difficult planning have been stymied by the lack of measures that can be shown to have validity. This study examines the psychometric characteristics of the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) when used as a measure of patients' evaluation of their end-of-life decision-making process.

METHODS

This evaluation used the combined data from two independent samples in which 59 outpatients with a life-threatening illness and their surrogate decision makers were assigned to receive, a decision aid intervention, the patient-centered advance care planning (PcACP), or usual care only.

RESULTS

Internal consistency for the DCS in the end-of-life decision-making context was high. The DCS demonstrated convergent, construct, and discriminant validity based on the total scale scores.

CONCLUSION

The DCS appears to be a viable research instrument for measuring the quality of end-of-life decision making. However, the uncertainty subscale showed a weak discriminating ability and lack of association with the two other subscales, the modifiable factors contributing to uncertainty and the effectiveness of the decision making.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The findings of the study can be useful for measuring decisional conflict in individuals with serious illness facing end-of-life decision making.

Understanding and overcoming the barriers of implementing patient decision aids in clinical practice

Patient decision aids (ptDAs) have been developed to assist patients with difficult health-related decisions. Despite their proven effects on decision quality in numerous efficacy trials, we lack an evidence-based approach for implementing them as part of the process of care. Pragmatic trials of ptDAs have uncovered a myriad of implementation challenges; therefore we need a better understanding of the barriers and strategies to overcome them to facilitate their widespread uptake. The following paper provides an overview of the barriers related to the uptake of ptDAs within the process of care and the strategies, opportunities and research priorities to overcome them. This report is based on our interpretation of the literature and our collective experience in implementing ptDAs within trials and other contexts.

Knowledge about osteoporosis: assessment, correlates and outcomes

During the last 10 years, we have witnessed an impressive increase in the number of studies examining knowledge about osteoporosis. The aim of the present paper is to examine the status of research on knowledge about osteoporosis by reviewing and analyzing the current literature as it pertains to assessment of knowledge about osteoporosis, factors associated with knowledge, and relationship between knowledge about osteoporosis and participation in health-related behaviors. Finally, future directions in the field are discussed. Many of the studies are still characterized by the lack of a theoretical framework, as well as by various methodological flaws. Serious deficits in knowledge are reported among healthy and diagnosed women and men, as well as among health professionals. Educational interventions are accompanied by an increase in knowledge, but no change in behavior. There is need to expand the research on knowledge about osteoporosis, especially in an effort to increase its impact on the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease. The deficits found in the knowledge of both the general population and among health care professionals, should be addressed by providing updated and reliable information through appropriate health promotion and professional venues.

Development and preliminary testing of a patient decision aid to assist pharmaceutical care in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To develop and test a decision aid for patients with hypertension and/or dyslipidemia because a decision aid may assist in pharmaceutical care by providing relevant evidence-based information.

DESIGN

Before and after use of a decision aid.

SETTING

Hypertension clinic of a university hospital and a specialized coronary heart disease-prevention clinic.

PATIENTS

A convenience sample of 16 patients receiving pharmacologic treatment for hypertension and/or dyslipidemia.

INTERVENTION

A face-to-face interview was conducted before using the decision aid. This was followed by a telephone interview after the patient used the decision aid to assess the acceptability of the decision aid to the patient, as well as the patient's knowledge, risk perception, and decisional conflict.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The decision aid consists of a booklet containing general, evidence-based information and a personal worksheet. The worksheet provides information on patient risk factors, personal estimates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the benefits of treatment options, and values clarification exercise. It invites patients to specify an action plan and follow their own progress over time. Most patients (86-93%) rated the presentation of the information as excellent or very good, 80% judged the information about lifestyle changes and drug therapy to be balanced, 93% rated the amount of information "just right," and 100% found the decision aid useful. After using the decision aid, patients had higher knowledge scores for general risk factors (before, 91%; after, 100%, p=0.014), personal risk factors (73%, 92%, p=0.016), and treatment options (68%, 99%, p<0.001). More patients were able to estimate correctly their CVD risk category (50%, 93%, p=0.03) and their absolute 10-year CVD risk (0%, 93%, p<0.001), whereas the overall decisional conflict score decreased (p=0.007).

CONCLUSION

The decision aid was acceptable to patients and improved their knowledge, risk perception, and decisional conflict. Therefore, the feasibility and impact of using the decision aid in community pharmacies and medical clinics should be assessed.

A qualitative study of physicians' perceptions of three decision aids

The study objective was to investigate physicians' perceptions of three patient decision aids (DA). Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 family physicians and 12 gynecologists about a DA for women considering long-term hormone replacement therapy; with 16 respirologists about a DA for the use of intubation and mechanical ventilation for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and with 19 physicians (geriatricians, gastroenterologists, internists) about a DA for long-term placement of feeding tubes in the elderly. Participants were identified by a snowball sampling technique. The interviews were analyzed using standard qualitative methods. Most participants (81%) indicated some willingness to use the DAs. The characteristics of the DA viewed positively included it being: balanced, well organized, a useful tool, evidence-based, improves decision making process and multimedia. Some of the negative characteristics were stated as: too complex, the cost, the availability, only appropriate for certain groups of patients, and time consuming. The DAs were acceptable to most participants. Perceived positive and negative factors were similar for all DAs. Uptake of decision aids may be facilitated if physicians have an opportunity to examine and try them, and if they can have unfettered access to them for distribution purposes.