Implementation of the Depression Medication Choice Decision Aid in a Canadian Context: A Feasibility Trial

The quality of care for patients facing depression, one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, needs improvement. Despite its high incidence, depression remains sub-optimally managed, particularly in primary care, where most patients suffering from depression receive care. Successfully treated depressive patients can potentially improve their burden of disease and significantly improve their quality of life, but not without the best treatment adapted to their contexts, preferences, and expectations. Clinical research provides essential knowledge for the delivery of quality care which is unfortunately seldom applied in daily practice.

One of the preferred methods for overcoming this lack of quality of care is shared decision making: a collaborative process between a clinician and patient that relies on the consideration of scientific evidence, in addition to the values and preferences of the patient. The use of decision aids supports this process by presenting scientific information in an accessible manner while focusing on patient-centered discussion. We developed and rigorously evaluated, in the United States, a decision aid regarding pharmaceutical treatment options for depression, Depression Medication Choice, to be used by health professionals and patients during clinical encounters. The integration and impact of Depression Medication Choice, in primary care practices in a Canadian context is unknown.

The specific objectives of this study are threefold: (i) Evaluate the potential impact of the use of Depression Medication Choice by health professionals and patients during clinical encounters on measures of the quality of the decisional process and on health issues important to the patient and health professional; (ii) Document the processes and optimal measures to take to successfully realize projects on a larger scale; and (iii) Evaluate the feasibility of performing patient-centered studies in a realistic context, minimally disturbing to the study environment, in the primary care context in Quebec, Canada.

Once completed, the estimated potential impact of this decision aid and shared decision making in primary care in a Canadian context will have been measured, progressing toward high-quality patient-centered care. Moreover, it will be possible to optimally perform future studies in realistic contexts while minimizing the burden on the clinics, their health professionals, and their patients.