Shared decision making: A novel approach to personalized treatment in obstructive sleep apnea

Study objectives

i) To describe a novel approach of phenotyping by shared decision making (SDM) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) discharge consultations ii) to describe correlation between patient and observer based evaluations of SDM and iii) to describe treatment adherence.

Methods

Consecutive patients referred to the otorhinolaryngology department at Akershus University Hospital with suspected OSA between 2015 and 2016 participated. Patients with body mass index >30 were oversampled. Four male communication-trained doctors aged from 30 to 60 years participated. SDM was evaluated by modified content analysis and by the CollaboRATE self-report questionnaire and the “Observer OPTION (Young et al., 2008) [5]” rating scale. Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment adherence and weight reduction was assessed by interview at six year follow-up.

Results

Eighteen consultations were video filmed. The content analysis revealed that the patient perspectives only briefly were explored. PAP was chosen by 17 of 18 patients. Median CollaboRATE questionnaire score was 29 (26, 30). Mean OPTION (Young et al., 2008) [5] score was 65.6 (SD 6.6, range 55–80). The correlation between SDM assessed by CollaboRATE self-report and by the “Observer OPTION (Young et al., 2008) [5]” rating scale was low (Pearson's r = 0.09). At follow up, 11 patients (64.7%) were PAP adherent and no one achieved 10% weight loss.

Conclusions

Despite a high degree of SDM compared to studies of non-OSA populations, the sub-optimal exploration of the patient perspective by communication-trained doctors precluded identification of patients willing to cope actively. SDM assessed by self-report and by a rating scale may represent two different constructs. PAP adherence was good.