title: The Attitude of Physicians toward the Use of Patient Decision Aids in Iran as a Developing Country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The patient decision aids (PDAs), which can facilitate the decision-making process when choosing the optimal method of treatment, are a challenge to patients. This study tried to determine the attitude of physicians on the barriers of using PDAs in the way of prioritizing and proposing solutions to them.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a cross-sectional research carried out on 150 clinical faculty members of research centers and scientific associations affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The participants were chosen using the convenience sampling method. The attitude of physicians toward the application of PDAs was interviewed using a self-made questionnaire composed of 23 questions. The association between physicians' attitude to the use of PDAs and their characteristics was examined using the t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of physicians' attitude was 76.2 (standard deviation =11.9) and the range was 33-107. There was a significant and direct association between the attitude toward the use of PDA and the respondents' age (r = 0.237, P = 0.007), years of experience (r = 0.205, P = 0.02), being male (P = 0.04), and working in the private sector (P = 0.009). The attitude score of instructors was significantly lower than that of professors (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The general attitude of physicians toward the use of PDAs was positive. However, apparently as a result of problems mentioned in this study for the developing countries such as Iran, it is much easier to employ these tools in centers run by the private sector. Usage of such tools in public centers necessitates systemic infrastructure as well as credits and budgets required for the training of patients and physicians.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Hamideh
authors: H
authors: Rashidian
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Saharnaz
authors: S
authors: Nedjat
authors: Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Mounesan
authors: Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Haghjou
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Majdzadeh
keywords: Attitude; Iran; developing country; patient decision aids; physician