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Decision‐making needs of patients with depression: a descriptive study
Author(s) -
STACEY D.,
MENARD P.,
GABOURY I.,
JACOBSEN M.,
SHARIF F.,
RITCHIE L.,
BUNN H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2007.01224.x
Subject(s) - embarrassment , feeling , depression (economics) , distress , medicine , anxiety , confidentiality , psychiatry , family medicine , psychology , nursing , clinical psychology , social psychology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
The study's purpose was to explore the decision‐making needs of patients considering treatment options for their depression. Semi‐structured interviews were guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework. Of 94 participants, 67 were uncertain about their decision. Common decisions identified were whether or not to take medications, attend support groups, undergo electroconvulsive therapy, and location of care. Those feeling certain were more likely to have made a decision (RR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.78). However, 40 patients who had ‘made a decision’ in the recent past were uncertain about their decision. Compared with those who were certain, the uncertain group felt less informed (2.65 vs. 1.64; P < 0.001), less supported (2.63 vs. 1.88; P < 0.001) and less clear about how they valued the benefits and risks of options (2.57 vs. 1.69; P < 0.001). Other influential factors included concerns about confidentiality, distress from depression, embarrassment, panic attacks and lack of energy. Few patients wanted to defer decision making to their physician ( n = 8) or family ( n = 1). To support decision making, participants identified the need for: discussions with their psychiatrist, nurse or family doctor; access to printed information; and information provided by health professionals and health societies.