Using a patient decision aid for insulin initiation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative analysis of doctor–patient conversations in primary care consultations in Malaysia

What is it about?

Abstract Objective To investigate whether the use of a patient decision aid (PDA) for insulin initiation fulfils its purpose of facilitating patient-centred decision-making through identifying how doctors and patients interact when using the PDA during primary care consultations. Design Conversation analysis of seven single cases of audio-recorded/video-recorded consultations between doctors and patients with type 2 diabetes, using a PDA on starting insulin. Setting Primary care in three healthcare settings: (1) one private clinic; (2) two public community clinics and (3) one primary care clinic in a public university hospital, in Negeri Sembilan and the Klang Valley in Malaysia. Participants Clinicians and seven patients with type 2 diabetes to whom insulin had been recommended. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample high in variance across healthcare settings, participant demographics and perspectives on insulin. Primary outcome measures Interaction between doctors and patients in a clinical consultation involving the use of a PDA about starting insulin. Results Doctors brought the PDA into the conversation mainly by asking information-focused ‘yes/no’ questions, and used the PDA for information exchange only if patients said they had not read it. While their contributions were limited by doctors’ questions, some patients disclosed issues or concerns. Although doctors’ PDA-related questions acted as a presequence to deliberation on starting insulin, their interactional practices raised questions on whether patients were informed and their preferences prioritised.

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Why is it important?

Knowing how doctors and patients interact during the use of a patient decision aid (PDA) for insulin initiation can help to understand how much patients are informed and how their preferences are prioritised.