Development of a patient decision aid for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a patient-centered approach

Patient decision aids (PDAs) can effectively facilitate shared decision-making (SDM) between patients and healthcare professionals. The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaboration created a model for the systematic development of PDAs. However, the absence of a solid evidence base limits practical recommendations for best practices. For example, uncertainties exist about the most appropriate method for identifying the needs and preferences of patients and healthcare professionals. This study aims to detail the development process for the development of a PDA for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), using the IPDAS model.

From September 2020 to February 2023, we systematically developed the PDA for T2DM in the Netherlands. We adopted a patient-centered approach by researching patient considerations and actively collaborating with a multidisciplinary steering group, including patients with T2DM, patient organizations, and healthcare professionals. The PDA content and prototype development were determined by incorporating patients' needs and preferences, input from the steering group, and available evidence regarding T2DM treatment options. The research team and steering group iteratively reviewed the PDA prototype.

A web-based PDA was developed consisting of five sections: 1) information about T2DM and the available treatment options; 2) comparison of treatment options; 3) questions to assess patients' knowledge; 4) value-clarification exercise; and 5) summary of the patient's journey through the PDA. Before patients use the PDA, healthcare professionals can preselect the most relevant treatment options.

Early and iterative involvement of relevant stakeholders in the development process of the PDA helped the alignment of the PDA with the needs and preferences of the diverse end-users. In a future study, we will investigate the effectiveness of the PDA in facilitating SDM in T2DM care.

International Clinical Trials Registry Platform ID: NL8948, date of registration: 05-10-2020.