Which questionnaires can be used to elicit patients’ preferences regarding patient-provider consultations? Results of a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: Active patient involvement and attention to patient preferences in patient-provider consultations are increasingly recognized as essential to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Aim of the review was to provide an overview of questionnaires that measure patient preferences regarding communication, information provision and involvement in decision-making in patient-provider consultations. Methods: Inclusion criteria were studies that provided primary data, were published in German or English, and included adult patients. The systematic search was conducted in PubMed and PsycInfo. Data extraction and summary focused on information about the development process, topic and structure, and reliability of instruments. Results: Of 6,667 abstracts screened, 34 articles were included, describing 37 different instruments, often originating from an Anglo-American context. Twelve articles reported patient involvement in the development process. Majority of questionnaires measures aspects of information and/or decision-making preferences. Fewer instruments focus on patient-centeredness or communication preferences. Length of questionnaires varied from one to 80 items. Only 15 studies reported reliability indices. Conclusion: Due to the heterogeneous description, a more consistent reporting of data would be desirable for future publications as well as more participatory research. Practice implications: Although there is a wide range of questionnaires available, more research is needed to determine the extent to which they can be used in everyday clinical practice to elicit preferences from individual patients with a wide range of conditions and cultural backgrounds.