“Replace uncertainty with information”: Shared decision-making and
decision quality surrounding catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Abstract
Introduction: Shared decision-making (SDM) can support patients
with atrial fibrillation (AF) to evaluate treatment options for rhythm
and symptom control, but studies suggest it is not occurring
meaningfully in routine practice. The objective of this study was to
measure decision quality and describe decision-making processes among
patients and clinicians involved in decision-making around catheter
ablation for AF. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional,
mixed-methods study guided by a SDM model outlining decision
antecedents, processes, and outcomes. Patients and clinicians completed
semi-structured interviews about decision-making around ablation,
feelings of decision conflict and regret, and preferences for the
content, delivery, and format of a hypothetical decision aid for
ablation. Patients also completed surveys about demographic
characteristics and literacy levels, AF symptoms using the University of
Toronto AF Severity Scale (AFSS), and aspects of decision quality using
the Controls-Preferences, Decisional Conflict, and Decision Regret
scales. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics and
qualitative data were analyzed using directed content analysis.
Results: Fifteen patients (mean age 71.1 ± 8.6 years; 27%
female; mean 7.0 [SD 7.0] months since ablation) and five clinicians
(three physicians, one NP, and one PA) were recruited. Most patients
preferred to either share or relinquish control in medical
decision-making to clinicians. For most patients, decisional conflict
and regret were low, and symptoms and cardiac health generally improved
after ablation. However, they also reported low levels of information
and agency in the decision-making process. Most clinicians report
routinely providing patients with information and encouraging engagement
during consultations. Patients reported preferences for an interactive,
web-based decision aid that clearly presents evidence regarding outcomes
using data, visualizations, videos, and personalized risk assessments,
and is available in multiple languages. Conclusions:
Disconnects between clinician efforts to provide information and bolster
agency and patient experiences of decision-making suggest decision aids
may be needed to improve decision quality in practice. Reported
experiences with current decision-making practices and preferences for
decision aid content, format, and delivery can support the user-centered
design and development of a decision aid.