Instruments for Evaluating Shared Medical Decision Making

Abstract

The author conducted a structured literature review of instruments for evaluating shared medical decision making. She included relevant instruments that were generalizable beyond specific situations and had been formally evaluated and organized them by domains of values or preferences, information and communication in decision making, and other aspects of decision making. For values or preferences, the author identified 11 instruments, mostly on preferences for roles and information. For information and communication, she found a systematic review of instruments for observational assessment of decision making, 3 additional observational instruments, and 3 questionnaires. For other aspects of decision making, the author identified 3 instruments in domains such as decision self-efficacy and 4 multidimensional instruments. Although instrument development tended to cluster in several areas and there were clear gaps in the literature, the diversity of instruments demonstrates the broad range of constructs involved in assessing shared decision making.

The OPTION scale for the assessment of shared decision making (SDM): methodological issues

“…In this study, OPTION was selected for a review of methodological issues because it is currently the most prominent measure for the assessment of clinician-patient involvement. Psychometric limitations of other instruments in SDM have been reported elsewhere [43][44][45][46].…”

“…Medical decision making is a complex process involving many different factors which complicates quantitative assessment. Valid assessment of patient involvement seems to be an elusive goal [43]. In this study, OPTION was selected for a review of methodological issues because it is currently the most prominent measure for the assessment of clinician-patient involvement.…”

Occupational therapists’ shared decision-making behaviors with patients having persistent pain in a work rehabilitation context: A cross-sectional study

“…It has shown high internal consistency [26]. A systematic review of SDM observation instruments shows that this scale has the most highly rated psychometric qualities [27]. We standardized the total score of the OPTION scale, which was initially on a 0-48-point scale, into 0-100 points.…”

Continuing professional development for interprofessional teams supporting patients in healthcare decision making

“…Several authors have published reviews of instruments that measure communication in shared decision making (Dy, 2007) and instruments and methods to assess practicing physicians (Evans, Edwards, Evans, & Elwyn, 2007b). Performance can be evaluated in simulated situations or in clinical practice by rating directly observed, audio-or videotaped interactions.…”