Decision making about anti-TNF therapy: A pilot trial of a shared decision-making intervention

Decision-making for children and adolescents: a scoping review of interventions increasing participation in decision-making

PURPOSE

To review and synthesize the literature on interventions to facilitate shared decision-making or to increase participation in decision-making in pediatrics focusing on interventions for children and adolescents.

METHODS

We systematically searched three electronic databases (September 2021, update in September 2022). We included studies that aimed to increase involvement of children and adolescents in medical or treatment decisions, regardless of study design and reported outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the MMAT. The synthesis strategy followed a narrative methodology.

RESULTS

21 studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions aimed to increase participation by provision of information, encouraging active participation and collaboration. Didactic strategies included digital interactive applications (n = 12), treatment protocols and guiding questions (n = 12), questionnaires or quizzes about patients' condition or their knowledge (n = 8), visual aids (n = 4), and educational courses (n = 1). Findings indicate positive effects on some of the investigated outcomes. However, the heterogeneity of studies made it difficult to draw consistent conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions used a variety of approaches to facilitate SDM and increase participation. The findings suggest that interventions have inconsistent effects across different outcome variables. The evidence was limited due to the methodological shortcomings of the included studies.

IMPACT

To increase the participation of children and adolescents in decision-making, interventions targeting them are needed. Most intervention focus on the provision of information and encouragement for active participation. The results suggest high feasibility and, mostly, positive effects in participation, health-related knowledge, patient-HCP relationship, and adherence The study highlights that further high-quality studies using similar outcome parameters are needed to investigate the effects of interventions to facilitate participation in decision-making.

Evolving Roles: Adolescent Perspectives on Shared Decision Making With Their Parents and Health Care Providers

OBJECTIVE

Shared decision making (SDM) involving adolescents presents unique challenges. To adequately support and evaluate SDM that includes adolescents, parents, and health care providers, it is imperative to understand adolescent perspectives. This study aims to describe the perspectives of adolescents with chronic health conditions regarding sharing medical decisions with their parents and health care providers.

METHODS

Adolescents ages 12 to 17 years with chronic health conditions participated in semistructured qualitative interviews via video conference. Interview questions focused on adolescents' decision-making experiences. Additionally, concepts of SDM were explored in depth. Transcribed interviews were coded and thematically analyzed using a combination of inductive and deductive coding.

RESULTS

Sixteen adolescents participated in qualitative interviews (median age 14 years, 62% male, 62% non-white). Analysis of interviews revealed 4 themes that highlight adolescent perspectives on the process of SDM: defining the adolescent's role and degree of participation in decisions, understanding complex information, sharing the adolescent's unique perspective, and coming to consensus. Adolescents in this study described increasingly active participation in more complex decisions as they gained independence, experience, and understanding of health information. Adolescents discussed the importance of their perspectives being acknowledged in the final decision. They also felt it was important to identify values they have in common with their parents and health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this work indicate that adolescents with chronic health conditions experience evolving roles in SDM. These data can be used to tailor and improve SDM to address adolescent needs through active engagement, personalized communication, and inclusion of adolescent values.

Pilot trial of iBDecide: Evaluating an online tool to facilitate shared decision making for adolescents and young adults with ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

This pilot, randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the usability, among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with ulcerative colitis (UC), of a web-based tool ('iBDecide') designed to facilitate shared decision making (SDM).

METHODS

AYAs with UC (n = 35) were randomized to intervention (iBDecide, n = 14) and control (n = 12) arms before a scheduled clinic visit. We measured the usability of iBDecide, SDM, preferred decision-making style, decision conflict and intervention use.

RESULTS

Participants in the intervention group found iBDecide easy to use and agreed that it made them feel ready to participate in decision making and that they would use it to prepare for appointments. There were 130 visits to iBDecide, lasting on average 3 min, 41 s. The medication and nutrition trackers were among the most-viewed pages. Pages specifically designed to facilitate SDM were viewed only four times. Across groups, too few participants reported making decisions during clinic visits for decision-related measures to be reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot trial provides evidence for the usability of iBDecide and guidance for developing a larger-scale trial of a combined web-based and in-clinic SDM intervention. Overall, iBDecide shows promise in engaging AYAs with UC in SDM and condition management.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Patients, specifically AYAs with UC, and healthcare providers were involved in the design of this study's intervention, iBDecide. Additionally, the research team, from study conception to manuscript writing, included a young adult with inflammatory bowel disease.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04207008).