Shared decision making and patients satisfaction with strabismus care-a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Patient-centered care
• Health communication

Background:

• Strabismus is a complex condition with diverse treatment options.
• Shared decision-making (SDM) involves providers and patients collaboratively discussing treatment alternatives, benefits, and risks.
• The impact of SDM on patient satisfaction in strabismus care is not well-understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between SDM and patient satisfaction with treatment outcomes in strabismus.
• To assess the influence of the SDM process on patient perceptions of care.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational pilot study involving 93 adult strabismus patients.
• Patients completed the SDM-Q-9 questionnaire to assess their perception of SDM.
• Post-treatment satisfaction was rated, and statistical analyses (linear regression, Spearman, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis) were performed.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was found between SDM-Q-9 scores and patient satisfaction with surgical outcomes (B=0.005, p<0.001).
• A strong positive correlation (r=0.834, p<0.01) existed between SDM and satisfaction, particularly influenced by age.
• No significant relationship was observed concerning patient gender or strabismus type.

Conclusions:

• The study establishes a link between the SDM process and patient satisfaction in strabismus surgery, adjusted for age.
• Findings suggest improvements in communication and SDM can enhance patient satisfaction in strabismus care.
• Further multicenter validation is recommended to explore patient-clinician interactions throughout strabismus management.