A team of researchers from the Evaluation Service of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS) and the Canary Islands Foundation Institute of Health Research (FIISC), together with the Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), in collaboration with Family and Community Medicine professionals associated with the Primary Care Management of Tenerife and mental health specialists from the private sector, have developed a research project focused on Shared Decision Making (SDM) in depression.
The main objectives of the project are:
- Update a web tool for shared decision-making, designed for patients with depression who attend Primary Care consultations, following the latest Clinical Practice Guidelines.Â
- To evaluate the acceptability of this web tool by patients with depression from different sociodemographic and clinical profiles.
Why is this project important?
Depression has increased rapidly in recent years, and although various treatments exist, many people do not respond adequately. Symptoms include profound sadness, apathy, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), hopelessness, irritability, and a general feeling of malaise. Cognitive and physical symptoms may also be present, severely impacting quality of life. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide [1], affecting approximately 280 million people [2]. Its impact on quality of life and its link to suicide risk make it a critical health issue for those who suffer from it, the healthcare system, and society as a whole.
The Importance of Shared Decision Making
Current clinical practice guidelines recommend that patients actively participate in decisions about their treatment, with the support of their families [3]. This is how the concept of Shared Decision-Making emerged: a process in which healthcare professionals and patients collaborate to choose the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic options, considering patients’ values and preferences. This approach is key to Person-Centered Care (PCC), a model that places the patient at the center of decisions about their care, integrating their needs and preferences into the process.
Development and Evaluation of the Tool
The project is divided into two parts:
– Subproject 1: Updating the DBT support tool based on the best available scientific evidence on depression treatments, in accordance with current Clinical Practice Guidelines.
– Subproject 2: Evaluation of the acceptability of the tool in various Primary Care centers in Tenerife, involving a minimum of 30 patients with depression.
The ultimate goal is for patients to learn about and choose the treatment options that best suit them, thereby improving their participation and satisfaction with their medical care.
Understanding the Needs of Patients and Professionals
Before developing the tool, it is essential to understand the needs of both patients and professionals. To this end, two brief questionnaires have been created, each taking no more than 10 minutes to complete: one for professionals and another for patients with a current or past diagnosis of depression.
