A Computerised Guidance Tree (Decision Aid) for Hypertension, Based on Decision Analysis: Development and Preliminary Evaluation

This paper discusses the piloting of a computerised decision aid that provides individualised information about hypertension to patients. The program is based on decision analysis, using decision trees as a way of structuring information. It incorporates the Framingham risk equation to assess a user...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of cardiovascular nursing : journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology 2006-06, Vol.5 (2), p.146-149
Main Authors: Thomson, Patricia, Dowding, Dawn, Swanson, Vivien, Bland, Richard, Mair, Chris, Morrison, Audrey, Taylor, Anne, Beechey, Claire, Niven, Catherine A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Computers
Choice Behavior
Computer Literacy
Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods
Decision Trees
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted - methods
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Hypertension - complications
Hypertension - diagnosis
Hypertension - psychology
Hypertension - therapy
Life Style
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing Assessment
Nursing Evaluation Research
Patient Education as Topic - methods
Patient Participation - methods
Patient Participation - psychology
Pilot Projects
Risk Assessment - methods
Scotland
Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods
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Summary:This paper discusses the piloting of a computerised decision aid that provides individualised information about hypertension to patients. The program is based on decision analysis, using decision trees as a way of structuring information. It incorporates the Framingham risk equation to assess a users' risk of coronary artery disease, together with a detailed assessment of the patient's current lifestyle and their willingness to change behaviour. Users of the program can decide how much or how little information they access. The program assesses individual's preferences for different treatment outcomes, before providing them with guidance on what might be the best treatment option for them. The program was evaluated by 10 patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate hypertension and 8 health care professionals. Overall, both health care professionals and patients assessed the program positively. The use of a decision aid based on decision analysis may be a useful way of providing information to patients in order to promote shared decision making.
ISSN:1474-5151
1873-1953
DOI:10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2005.10.003