Shared decision-making tool development for colorectal cancer screening: A co-creative process with general...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Patient Empowerment

Background:

• European guidelines emphasize informed decision-making for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.
• A lack of tailored shared decision-making (SDM) tools exists for underserved populations and general practitioners (GPs) in Flanders.
• This gap hinders effective CRC screening participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-create an SDM tool for CRC screening.
• To capture the needs and preferences of underserved populations and GPs regarding content, design, and delivery of the tool.
• To facilitate informed decision-making in CRC screening.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium.
• Two rounds of focus groups with underserved people and quality group meetings with GPs were held.
• Data were analyzed using a Modified-Grounded Theory Analytical (M-GTA) approach.

Main Results:

• Barriers to screening include lack of time, staff, tools, and language/literacy issues for underserved groups.
• Existing tools have limitations in accessibility and navigation, but visuals and simple language are effective.
• GPs prefer user-friendly, at-home tools, while underserved populations value personalized information on risks and costs.
• Integration strategies emphasize structured, personalized, and collaborative care.

Conclusions:

• Tailoring SDM tool content and design to underserved people and GPs is key to overcoming language and health literacy barriers.
• Further testing is required to validate the SDM tool's effectiveness in supporting shared decision-making for CRC screening.