Differences in patients’ perception and satisfaction between paper-based and computer- based “Shared Decision-Making” consultation – an experience from a medical center in central Taiwan

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the difference in patient’s perception and satisfaction between patients undergoing paper-based Shared decision-making (SDM) and those receiving computer-based. We retrospectively collected questionnaires before and after SDM. Basic demographic data as well as anxiety, satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, and participation in SDM were recorded. We divided our population into subgroups according to paper-based or computer-based SDM. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was applied to assess the relationships among variables. n total, 304 patients who visited our Division of Nephrology were included in the final analysis. Overall, over half of the patients felt anxiety (n = 217, 71.4%). The proportion of patients felt a reduction in anxiety after SDM (n = 143, 47.0%) and 281 patients (92.4%) were satisfied with the whole process of SDM. When we divided all of the patients based on paper-based or computer-based SDM, the reduction of anxiety level was greater in the patients who underwent paper-based SDM when compared with that of those who underwent computer-based SDM. However, there was no significant difference in satisfaction with SDM between the two groups. Paper-based SDM was as effective as computer-based SDM. Further studies from non-Western countries are warranted to gain a more complete understanding of cultural issues related to SDM.