A Simple Goal Elicitation Tool Improves Shared Decision Making in Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Medical Decision Making
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Shared decision-making requires patient education, goal elicitation, and collaborative treatment planning.
• Physicians often struggle with goal elicitation, leading to patient misconceptions and decisional conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the efficacy of a simple goal elicitation tool in improving patient involvement in decision-making.
• To assess the impact of a goal elicitation worksheet on perceived patient involvement.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blind study involving new patients at an outpatient surgical center.
• Intervention group received a demographics questionnaire and a goal elicitation worksheet; control group received only a demographics questionnaire.
• Patient-perceived involvement was measured using the Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (PICS) survey.

Main Results:

• The intervention group reported significantly higher mean PICS scores compared to the control group (9.04 vs. 7.54, P < 0.01).
• Patient goals frequently centered on diagnosis, treatment (39%), and education about illness or options (21%).

Conclusions:

• A single-step goal elicitation tool effectively enhances patient-perceived involvement in care.
• This tool offers an efficient method for implementation in diverse clinical settings.