Evaluation of a Decision Analysis Model in the DASH-Osteo Decision Aid.

Summary

Fragility fractures, often caused by low bone mineral density, are a major health concern for postmenopausal women. One way to prevent these fractures is by taking medication, but deciding whether to start treatment can be difficult due to potential risks and side effects.

This study will test a web-based tool designed to help women make informed decisions about fracture prevention treatment. The tool provides information about the benefits and risks of treatment. Some women in the study will also receive additional support through a decision analysis report, which helps weigh different factors when making a choice.

The study will examine whether using this tool improves decision-making, increases confidence in making a choice, and enhances satisfaction with the decision. It will also explore what factors influence women's decisions and at what level of risk they choose to start treatment.

By understanding how decision aids impact choices, researchers aim to improve the way healthcare providers support patients in making informed decisions about their health.

Conditions

• Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
• Osteoporotic Fractures
• Diphosphonates
• Fracture Risk Assessment

Interventions

OTHER

Decision aid with decision analysis model

Women will use the web version of the decision aid tool. They will have a supporting video to help them how to navigate the tool during. They will be able to access the tool through a specific link that will be shared with them by their central research team via e-mail. Each woman is expected to use the web tool and select her preferences (utilities) regarding different health conditions (e.g. hip fracture). The results of the exercises will be received automatically at the central level (by institutional e-mail to the researcher responsible for the data a PDF file will be sent from the web). The research team at the central level will apply the decision analysis model, using information on the baseline fracture risk and preferences of each participant entered into the tool. The results of the decision analysis model will be delivered to the women directly by e-mail in plain language, so that they can make the final decision together with their general practitioner in a second visit.

OTHER

Decision aid alone

Participants will use the web tool. They will have a supporting video to help them how to navigate the tool during. They will be able to access the tool through a specific link that will be shared with them by the central research team via e-mail. Each woman is expected to navigate through the different functions of the web tool, at home or at a time other than the medical visit, and select her preferences (utilities) with respect to different health conditions (e.g. hip fracture). The women in this group would decide whether or not to take the pharmacological treatment based on the information provided by the tool but without the results of the decision analysis model described for the intervention group. Subsequently, those who wished to do so would make a final decision together with their physician at a second visit.

OTHER

Usual Care

Women in this group will receive standard clinical practice, without the use of the shared decision support tool or the decision analysis model or any other support. At the end of the visit, their physician will provide them with a link to access the assessment questionnaires.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institut Catala de Salut

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain

  collaborator OTHER

• Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria

  collaborator OTHER

• Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-03

Primary Completion

2025-12-20

Completion

2026-02-25

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations