A Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Distinct Shared Decision-Making Aids for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in an Ethnically Diverse Patient Population

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the use of decision aids for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) regarding the potential risks and benefits of different treatment options.

Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted of 147 patients with advanced hip or knee OA to compare the effect of two decision aids (booklet-only vs. booklet with DVD).

Results: Both decision aid programs were well received and demonstrated improvements in patient knowledge and willingness to participate in treatment decisions. The decision aids, however, had a marginal effect on patient willingness to participate in OA management, with an increase of 0.11 and 0.6 on a scale of 2 (P = 0.58) between groups.

Conclusions: The decision aids were accepted for most patients and effective in improving patient knowledge and willingness to participate in the decision process. Nevertheless, the addition of a more expensive DVD to the booklet program did not improve patient acceptance or knowledge.

Keywords: decision aids; hip athroplasty; hip replacement; knee arthroplasty; knee replacement; shared decision making.