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Stakeholder engagement in methodological research: Development of a clinical decision support tool

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2020

Denise H. Daudelin*
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Robin Ruthazer
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Manlik Kwong
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Rebecca C. Lorenzana
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
Daniel J. Hannon
Affiliation:
School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
David M. Kent
Affiliation:
Predictive Analytics and Comparative Effectiveness (PACE) Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Timothy E. McAlindon
Affiliation:
Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Norma Terrin
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
John B. Wong
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA Division of Clinical Decision Making, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Harry P. Selker
Affiliation:
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
*
Address for correspondence: D. H. Daudelin, RN, MPH, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, #63, Boston, MA02111, USA. Email: ddaudelin@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
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Abstract

Introduction:

Shared patient–clinician decision-making is central to choosing between medical treatments. Decision support tools can have an important role to play in these decisions. We developed a decision support tool for deciding between nonsurgical treatment and surgical total knee replacement for patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. The tool aims to provide likely outcomes of alternative treatments based on predictive models using patient-specific characteristics. To make those models relevant to patients with knee osteoarthritis and their clinicians, we involved patients, family members, patient advocates, clinicians, and researchers as stakeholders in creating the models.

Methods:

Stakeholders were recruited through local arthritis research, advocacy, and clinical organizations. After being provided with brief methodological education sessions, stakeholder views were solicited through quarterly patient or clinician stakeholder panel meetings and incorporated into all aspects of the project.

Results:

Participating in each aspect of the research from determining the outcomes of interest to providing input on the design of the user interface displaying outcome predications, 86% (12/14) of stakeholders remained engaged throughout the project. Stakeholder engagement ensured that the prediction models that form the basis of the Knee Osteoarthritis Mathematical Equipoise Tool and its user interface were relevant for patient–clinician shared decision-making.

Conclusions:

Methodological research has the opportunity to benefit from stakeholder engagement by ensuring that the perspectives of those most impacted by the results are involved in study design and conduct. While additional planning and investments in maintaining stakeholder knowledge and trust may be needed, they are offset by the valuable insights gained.

Information

Type
Research Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Association for Clinical and Translational Science 2020
Figure 0

Table 1. Examples of stakeholder discussion questions to solicit the feedback needed for creating the modeling database and developing predictive models

Figure 1

Table 2. Potential model variables clinicians ranked as fairly or very important to include in the model selection process

Figure 2

Fig. 1. Physical function decision support graphic.

Figure 3

Fig. 2. Knee Osteoarthritis Mathematical Equipoise Tool (KOMET) depiction of the combined predictions for pain and physical function.

Figure 4

Table 3. Patient and clinician perception of the decision support tool’s usefulness for treatment decision-making