„Patient experiences with information, communication and shared decision making when deciding amputation level: A national cross-sectional study.“

Aim: Patients often feel excluded from amputation-level decisions and desire active participation, even in unavoidable amputations. Despite clinicians aiming for shared decision-making (SDM), barriers persist for implementation. This study explored patients experiences with information, communication, SDM, and their attitudes toward potential decision support tools.
Method: An electronic survey was distributed November 2023 among patients living with a major lower limb amputation, recruited through the patient association (n=25 (inclusion ongoing), 22 men, mean age 62). The questionnaire covered four domains, known to influence implementation of SDM: 1) Environmental Context and Resources, 2) Social/Professional Role and Identity, 3) Knowledge and Skills, and 4) Beliefs about Capabilities. Furthermore, respondents' experiences with information and communication and their viewpoints on the potential use of a tool to facilitate SDM in the determination of amputation levels, was explored.
Preliminary results: In general, 60% were satisfied with the conversation regarding their amputation, 20% were unsatisfied, 20% indifferent. In all, 68% received the information they needed; yet 76% still reported that a decision support tool for use in the conversation about where on the leg to amputate, would be beneficial to them as patients. The physicians were perceived as being open to talk about amputation by 44%. Around 32% of the participants experienced that it was okay to disagree with the physician and 52% experienced that there was time to talk about the topics/issues that they wanted to talk about.
Conclusion: Implementing SDM and decision support tools, could benefit patients need for conversation and information about amputation levels.