title: Assessment of Decisional Conflict about the Treatment of Trigger Finger, Comparing Patients and Physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As an early step in the development of a decision aid for idiopathic trigger finger (TF) we were interested in the level of decisional conflict experienced by patients and hand surgeons. This study tested the null hypothesis that there is no difference in decisional conflict between patients with one or more idiopathic trigger fingers and hand surgeons. Secondary analyses address the differences between patients and surgeons regarding the influence of the DCS-subcategories on the level of decisional conflict, as well as the influence of patient and physician demographics, the level of self-efficacy, and satisfaction with care on decisional conflict.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five hand surgeon-members of the Science of Variation Group (SOVG) and 84 patients with idiopathic TF completed the survey regarding the Decisional Conflict Scale. Patients also filled out the Pain Self-efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) and the Patient Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, patients had decisional conflict comparable to physicians, but by specific category patients felt less informed and supported than physicians. The only factors associated with greater decisional conflict was the relationship between the patient and doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a low, but measurable level of decisional conflict among patients and surgeons regarding idiopathic trigger finger. Studies testing the ability of decision aids to reduce decisional conflict and improve patient empowerment and satisfaction with care are merited.
authors.affiliation: Yawkey Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Michiel G J S
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hageman
authors.affiliation: Yawkey Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Anne-Carolin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Döring
authors.affiliation: Yawkey Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Silke A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Spit
authors.affiliation: Yawkey Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Thierry G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Guitton
authors.affiliation: Yawkey Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ring
keywords: Assessment of Needs; Decisional Conflict Scale; Shared decision making; Trigger Finger