Development and field testing of a consumer shared decision-making training program for adults with low literacy

Area of Science:

• Health literacy
• Patient education
• Shared decision-making

Background:

• Low literacy presents a significant barrier to effective shared decision-making (SDM) in healthcare.
• Existing SDM interventions are often not tailored to individuals with limited literacy skills.
• There is a need for accessible SDM training for adults with low literacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a tailored SDM training program for adults with low literacy.
• To enhance patients' understanding of SDM principles and their importance in healthcare.
• To equip individuals with low literacy with skills and self-efficacy for engaging in SDM.

Main Methods:

• Formative evaluation approach during program development.
• Literature review of the problem and prior interventions.
• Qualitative interviews with the target population.
• Program planning and iterative field testing.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive SDM training program was successfully developed.
• The program incorporates core SDM elements and the AskShareKnow questions.
• Aimed to improve understanding of risks, benefits, personal values, and preferences.
• Enhanced students' self-efficacy in using SDM tools during healthcare interactions.

Conclusions:

• Developing SDM interventions for adults with low literacy is an ethical necessity.
• Direct-to-consumer training programs in adult education settings show promise.
• Formative evaluation provides practical insights for consumer-focused SDM training development.
• The program content can guide future consumer engagement in SDM.