Using qualitative methods to inform the design of a decision aid for people with advanced cystic fibrosis: The InformedChoices CF patient decision aid

To assess information needs of adults with Cystic Fibrosis and their families toward designing a patient decision aid about invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and lung transplant.

Focus groups and in-depth interviews explored participants' knowledge, prior clinical conversations, and decisions about IMV and lung transplant. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed for analysis.

N = 24 participants were recruited. Themes identified were: prior communication with clinicians, decision-making process, and living with CF. Participants having prior conversations with CF clinicians regarding: lung transplant (N = 17/74%), and IMV (N = 3/13%). Most 15(65%) felt it was important to hear patients' real-life experience, others (3/13%) relied on their CF doctors for information. Most people (16/70%) believed hearing prognosis was helpful, but 5(22%) found this information frightening. High degrees of social isolation and a desire for more interaction with other CF adults were found.

Qualitative methods helped identify areas important for decision making about IMV and LT for CF adults. Future directions include usability and feasibility testing of the decision aid.

Because IMV is rarely discussed with CF adults, clinicians might approach this topic, as with transplant, as lung function begins to decline. CF-care teams should also foster CF patient-level information exchange.