Evaluating the content and development of decision aid tools for the management of menopause: A scoping review

Tasneem Siyam; Humirah Sultani; Sue Ross; Trish Chatterley; Nese Yuksel

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.006

Evaluating the content and development of decision aid tools for the management of menopause: A scoping review

Maturitas. 2017 Dec:106:80-86. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.006. Epub 2017 Sep 20.

Authors

Tasneem Siyam¹, Humirah Sultani², Sue Ross³, Trish Chatterley⁴, Nese Yuksel⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: tsiyam@ualberta.ca.
² Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada. Electronic address: humirah.sultani@ahs.ca.
³ Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Rm 5S131 Lois Hole Hospital/Robbins Pavilion Royal Alexandra Hospital 10240 Kingsway Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 3V9, Canada. Electronic address: Sue.Ross@albertaheatlhservices.ca.
⁴ John W. Scott Health Sciences Library, 2K3.28 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, T6G 2R7, Canada. Electronic address: trish.chatterley@ualberta.ca.
⁵ Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-171 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: nese.yuksel@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 29150170
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.006

Abstract

Objective: Decision-making during menopause (especially surgical menopause) can be complex given the variability in risk-benefit perceptions of menopausal treatments. Decision aid tools (DATs) help women participate in decision-making about options. Our objective is to identify and evaluate the content and development of DATs for managing menopause, with a special focus on surgical menopause.

Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases, including MEDLINE and EMBASE, from inception to March 2017 for relevant records. The principal inclusion criterion was that papers reported studies on DATs for managing menopause. Search terms were derived from two concepts: menopause and DATs. Data extracted were presented in written evidence tables and narrative summaries.

Results: Our search yielded 18,801 records. Of these, 26 records met our inclusion criteria, which gave rise to 12 DATs from peer-reviewed literature and 6 from grey literature. Seventeen DATs were focused on natural menopause and two targeted surgical menopause, both identified from grey literature. More than half were published before the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) publication and 70% before the release of the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Very few studies reported the full development of the DAT involved, and less than half of DATs were informed by a needs assessment to identify the decisional needs of their target population. Most DATs focused on hormone therapy as a treatment option and did not provide a comprehensive overview of other options. None of the DATs reported the steps involved in finding, appraising and summarizing scientific content of the tool.

Conclusion: This review highlights several limitations in the content and development of DATs for managing menopause. No peer-reviewed DATs were identified for surgical menopause. A need for a complete, evidence-based DAT in the context of surgical menopause is identified.

Keywords: Decision aid tools (DATs); Decision-making; Menopause; Surgical menopause.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Decision Making
Decision Support Techniques*
Female
Humans
Menopause*