Developing a question prompt list for the oncology setting: A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Question Prompt Lists (QPLs) are crucial tools for facilitating patient-provider communication in healthcare.
• Developing effective QPLs requires a systematic approach to ensure relevance and usability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the methodologies employed in developing QPLs specifically for oncology settings.
• To identify trends and best practices in QPL development over time.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across five databases (1999-2019), supplemented by a hand search.
• Data extraction focused on the methods used for QPL development, including participant involvement and review processes.
• Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in QPL development methods between older (1999-2009) and current (2010-2019) QPLs.
• The most common methods involved patient interviews or focus groups, followed by expert review sessions.
• Health professionals, patients, and researchers were consistently involved in the development process.

Conclusions:

• Effective QPL development necessitates the integration of multiple information sources.
• Involving health professionals, patients, and researchers is essential for creating relevant and acceptable QPLs.
• Incorporating review and evaluation stages improves the overall quality and acceptance of QPLs.