Abstract
Evidence-based cessation assistance increases cessation rates. Activating preferences during decision making could improve effectiveness further. Decision aids (DAs) facilitate deciding by taking preferences into account. To develop effective DAs, potential end users' (i.e., individuals motivated to quit) needs and experts' viewpoints should be considered. Therefore, the aim of this needs assessment was: (1) To explore end users' needs and (2) to obtain consensus among smoking cessation counsellors and scientific experts to develop a self-administered DA to support end users in choosing cessation assistance. Data was gathered via two approaches: (1) twenty semi-structured interviews with potential end users and (2) two three-round Delphi studies with 61 counsellors and 44 scientific experts. Interview data and the first Delphi rounds were analysed qualitatively, the other Delphi rounds were analysed quantitatively. Potential end users acquired information in different ways, e.g., via own experiences. Important characteristics to decide between tools varied, however effectiveness and costs were commonly reported. Experts reached consensus on 38 and 40 statements, e.g., tools should be appropriate for users' addiction level. Although some trends emerged, due to the variation among stakeholders, a 'one size fits all'-approach is undesirable. This heterogeneity should be considered, e.g., by enabling users to customise the DA.
Highlights
Uptake of Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation Assistance consensus among smoking cessation counsellors and scientific experts to develop a selfadministered Decision aids (DAs) to support end users in choosing cessation assistance
This is in contrast to the criteria of the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaboration (Durand et al, 2015) that explicitly recommend this assessment in the developmental process of any DA
In order to optimally explore the needs and viewpoints of the different stakeholder groups, two different approaches were applied in three studies: (1) In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify the smokers' needs and wishes in relation to the decision-making process on how to quit smoking and the content and format of an online self-administered DA that aims to support them in this process; (2) two three-round Delphi studies among (a) smoking cessation counsellors and (b) scientific experts, to gather their viewpoints and experiences regarding smoking cessation decision making and to obtain consensus on the required content of an online self-administered smoking cessation DA
Summary
Uptake of Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation Assistance consensus among smoking cessation counsellors and scientific experts to develop a selfadministered DA to support end users in choosing cessation assistance. In order to optimally explore the needs and viewpoints of the different stakeholder groups, two different approaches were applied in three studies: (1) In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify the smokers' needs and wishes in relation to the decision-making process on how to quit smoking and the content and format of an online self-administered DA that aims to support them in this process; (2) two three-round Delphi studies among (a) smoking cessation counsellors and (b) scientific experts, to gather their viewpoints and experiences regarding smoking cessation decision making and to obtain consensus on the required content of an online self-administered smoking cessation DA The result from these studies were directly applied by the research team to develop a selfadministered DA that individuals motivated to quit smoking can use themselves to prepare their cessation attempt (Gültzow, Smit, Hudales, Knapen, et al, 2020). The results of the three studies offer new insights into the decision-making process that smokers go through when they decide how they want to quit smoking—thereby contributing to the health communication literature
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