A multi-site service evaluation of the tinnitus care decision aid

Abstract

Objective: Shared decision-making is a principle of health care delivery across the world. The first international standard decision aid for tinnitus care was developed in 2018. This decision aid is in use across the UK. It is free to use and access from the British Tinnitus Association website. Our objective was to compare routine care with the care that also included the decision aid as part of care for their patients.

Design: A multi-site service evaluation included pre-post comparison of decisional conflict in sequential new patients seeking help with tinnitus. Informal interviews with staff and service managers explored how practical and feasible the decision aid was in routine practice.

Study sample: We present data from four contrasting clinical services, including services in England and Wales, acute and community services and those operated by Hearing Therapists and Audiologists.

Results: Across these contrasting services, the inclusion of the decision aid was associated with a reduction in decisional conflict in patients. The decision aid was feasible to administer, acceptable to patients and clinicians without creating a burden in appointments.

Conclusions: These evaluations suggest that the decision aid is feasible to administer and reduces patient decisional conflict. It appears to benefit clinical services in practice.