Development of three different decision support tools to support shared decision-making in vascular surgery

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Health Informatics
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) improves healthcare quality, especially in vascular surgery where treatment choices are preference-sensitive.
• Vascular surgeons currently underutilize SDM in clinical practice.
• Decision support tools (DSTs) are recognized as valuable aids for implementing SDM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of three distinct DSTs.
• To facilitate the application of SDM between vascular surgeons and patients.

Main Methods:

• DSTs were developed by a multidisciplinary steering group adhering to international standards.
• Patient information needs were gathered through focus groups.
• Prototype DSTs were evaluated for comprehensibility and usability by 52 patients and 18 vascular surgeons.

Main Results:

• Three types of DSTs were created: digital decision aids, paper-based consultation cards, and decision cards.
• These tools address four common vascular conditions: abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, intermittent claudication, and varicose veins.
• Patient preference leaned towards decision aids, while surgeons favored decision cards, though both groups found the tools useful.

Conclusions:

• Developed DSTs for vascular diseases are now accessible to surgeons and patients in the Netherlands.
• The DSTs were positively received by both patient and surgeon groups.
• English versions of the DSTs are also available, broadening their potential reach.