Development and acceptability testing of a tracheostomy decision support video for parents.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Patient education
• Shared decision-making

Background:

• The shared decision-making (SDM) process can be complex for parents facing critical pediatric healthcare decisions.
• Understanding the parental role and the experiences of others is crucial for effective SDM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a bedside intervention using peer parent narratives to enhance parental understanding of the SDM process.
• To support parents in their role during decision-making for pediatric tracheostomy.

Main Methods:

• Eight parents with tracheostomy decision experience shared their stories for a video intervention.
• The video was developed iteratively with parent and clinician feedback.
• Eighteen parents reviewed the video and provided feedback on its acceptability and clinical utility.

Main Results:

• Parents found the video helpful, appreciating the diverse perspectives and emotional connections.
• The intervention was perceived to empower parents to engage more actively with the medical team.
• Participants felt the video reduced feelings of isolation when facing difficult decisions.

Conclusions:

• Video-based education featuring parent perspectives can effectively support SDM in pediatric tracheostomy cases.
• This approach can complement existing strategies to enhance parent engagement in critical healthcare decisions.
• Similar narrative-based interventions may benefit families facing other significant medical choices.