Influence of Patient Decision-Making Aids for Patients With Unilateral Ureteral Stone: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Ureteral stone is a common disease with high prevalence and recurrence rate in Taiwan. Taiwan is located in subtropical zone, where urolithiasis is commonly seen. A national survey in Taiwan determined that 9.6% of the population suffered stones throughout their lifetime. Symptoms of ureteral stone include renal colic, hematuria, and urinary tract infection. Without proper treatment, ureteral stone could lead to renal function impairment such as acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are several treatment options for ureteral stone, such as ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL), flexible urteroscopic lithotripsy (F-URSL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and Medical expulsive therapy (MET). However, there are only few minutes from diagnosis of ureteral stone to possible treatment options explanation. It's difficult for patients to well understand all the details of possible treatments under such circumstances. Therefore, we design a patient decision aid (PDA) for unilateral ureteral stone to help patients understand all the treatment options. The PDA is standardized, written in plain language and patient-centered, with pictures attached.

Background: Shared decision making (SDM) has been defined as: 'an approach where clinicians and patients share the best available evidence when faced with the task of making decisions, and where patients are supported to consider options, to achieve informed preferences". To conduct SDM, a PDA was developed to be administered for patients with ureteral stone to choose treatment options. We expect the PDA would benefit the intervention group in the aspects of knowledge and communication in choosing treatment.The aim of this study is to conduct a single center randomized controlled trial (RCT ) to evaluate the benefit of PDAs on decision making. Patients and Methods: Decision aids are interventions designed to help patients with ureteral stone to choose their treatment options for unilateral ureteral stone and any potential outcome relevant to treatment options. Patients with unilateral ureteral stone are randomly assigned to receive a PDA (PDA group) or the standard oral information (control group) during consultation. In control group, patients will receive standard oral information. In PDA group group, PDA will be used as a tool to explain the benefits and harms between ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL), flexible urteroscopic lithotripsy (F-URSL), extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). And by following SDM principles, the patients are guided to consider their individual values and preferences and helped to make a choice that best meet their needs. This study will be conducted in a single center (Shuang Ho Hospital). The outcomes are decision conflicts and decision-making and SURE test before treatment. Hypothesis: We expect that the PDA would promote communications between doctors and patients, to further help the patient to make a proper decision for his/her own.