title: Exploring patient involvement in decision making for vascular procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developing patient-centered approaches to health care requires increased engagement of patients in their own care, including treatment decisions. Current levels of patient involvement in treatment choices have not been quantified, however, and whether patients desire greater decision-making responsibility is unknown. We conducted a prospective study to explore patients' desired vs experienced roles in treatment decisions, characterize perceptions of treatment outcomes, and identify important sources of information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing elective vascular procedures completed a survey consisting of multiple choice, Likert scale, and open-ended questions. Statistics are displayed as mean ± standard deviation or count (%). Differences among procedure categories were evaluated using χ(2) or the Fisher exact test at P < .05 based on responses scored 1 to 2, indicating importance, agreement, or satisfaction based on a 1 to 5 Likert scale where 1 = "very important," "strongly agree" or "very satisfied".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 101 patients who were contacted, 81 participated. Procedure categories included abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in 20, arteriovenous (AV) hemodialysis access in 21, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 20, and intervention for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 20. Participants preferred discussion of all treatments being considered vs only the provider's recommended treatment (90% vs 56%) and choosing together with the provider vs having the provider choose for them (93% vs 62%). Although participants indicated adequate information to ask questions without feeling overwhelmed, only 77% agreed that they had the opportunity to ask questions and only 54% indicated that they were offered a choice. Thirty-seven participants (46%) considered their first treatment was successful, 38% considered a subsequent treatment was successful, and 16% considered none of their treatments were successful. Participants undergoing PAD and AV access procedures most often felt confused or overwhelmed (25% and 24%, respectively, vs 0% for AAA and CEA; P < .01). Patients with PAD had adequate information least often (70% vs 85% for AAA, 100% for AV access, and 95% for CEA; P = .01), had the lowest satisfaction with understanding of their diagnosis (65% vs 95% for AAA, 100% for AV access, and 95% for CEA; P < .01), and most often considered none of their treatments successful (35% vs 0% for AAA, 15% for AV access, and 15% for CEA; P = .02). Providers were identified as the most important information source.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients have variable levels of participation in decision making related to vascular procedures and often consider their treatments unsuccessful. Although providers are important sources of information, patients still prefer to discuss all options being considered and contribute to shared decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. Electronic address: macorrie@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corriere
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Avise
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Jeanette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Easterling
authors.affiliation: School of Business, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Derrick S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: School of Business, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D003657:Decision Making; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures