The Effect of a Decision Aid on Decisional Conflict in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: Although a model for shared decision making is important for patient-centered care, decisional conflict can emerge when patients participate in the decision making. A decision aid is proposed to provide information and to involve patients more comfortably in the decision-making process. We aimed to determine whether a decision aid helps patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) experience less decisional conflict regarding their decision for surgery. Methods: Eighty CTS patients were randomized into 2 groups. The test group was given a decision aid in addition to regular information and the control group was given regular information only. The decision aid was a short video format that explains diagnosis and treatment options for CTS. We evaluated patients’ decisional conflict regarding their decision for surgery. We also evaluated patients’ knowledge about the disease and the perceived functional status as measured by the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire. Results: There was no difference in the Decisional Conflict Scale between both groups. Patients who viewed the decision aid had significantly better knowledge of CTS than those who did not. There was no correlation between the knowledge level and the Decisional Conflict Scale. However, higher DASH scores were correlated with lower decisional conflict. Conclusions: This study found that a decision aid does not reduce decisional conflict in patients with CTS, although it can help the patients be better informed. This study suggests that effective doctor-patient communication continues to be the most important way to reduce the decisional conflict in patients with CTS, and should be more emphasized for patients with less severe symptoms, as they have greater decisional conflict than those with severe symptoms.