Decision Grid
Developing a generic tool for use in healthcare consultations, which provides structure and support to the decision making process.
Aim
The aim of this study is to develop a decision support tool, which is designed in acknowledgement of the previously identified implementation barriers, and in seeking to overcome them, may be more readily and widely employed in routine clinical practice. We will pilot the tool in primary care consultations and develop a programme of workshops to inform and train clinicians about the tool. We will use qualitative techniques to analyze its application and suitability in standard healthcare consultations.
Background
Healthcare professionals are increasingly being encouraged to adopt shared decision making into their routine practice. Systematic reviews of the impact of shared decision making upon patient satisfaction and compliance with treatment show the practice to be efficacious. Even so, many professionals will admit to forsaking the process routinely and cite a number of barriers to the implementation of shared decision-making in routine clinical practice. Previous research has attempted to identify these barriers, in order to focus future attempts to design more readily used decision support tools.
About the study
The methods we will use are as follows:
- Literature review
- Qualitative interviews to ascertain the requirements of practitioners using decision support tools
- Development of the tool
- Piloting of the tool in 6 UK general practices
- Development of a training programme
- Follow up of clinicians using the tool by semi-structured interviews and decision quality measures
