WHAT FACTORS AFFECT PATIENT DECISION-MAKING IN KNEE REPLACEMENTS?

BackgroundKnee replacement surgery is currently facing three dilemmas: a high dissatisfaction rate; increasing demand with financial constraints; and variation in utilisation. A patient centred approach, usually achieved through shared decision-making, has the potential to help address these dilemmas. However, such an approach requires an understanding of the factors involved in patient decision-making. This is the first study examining decision-making in knee replacements that includes patients at different stages of decision-making – this is critical when considering decision-making as a process. We base our findings in a theoretical model, proposed by Elwyn et al, that highlights the distinction between deliberation and decision-making, and propose modifications to this model specific to knee replacement decision-making.MethodsThis study used two focus groups of six patients each and in-depth interviews with 10 patients to examine the factors that affect patient decision-making and their interaction at...