Decision Aid Testing Lab

Each year the Decision Aid Testing Lab engages in a number of research activities. Activities include 1) focus group studies to review existing and draft versions of decision aids, 2) decision quality audits, and 3) a primary care initiative focused on dissemination of decision aids to patients in a local clinic. Focus group studies will review decision aid videos on spinal stenosis, ovarian cancer screening, diabetes, and end of life care. Quantitative and qualitative data will be sent to the Foundation so it may be combined with other sites testing these videos. Decision quality audits will be reviewed on various topics such as benign uterine conditions, weight loss surgery, coronary artery disease, herniated disc, androgen deprivation treatments for prostate cancer, breast cancer surgery, and osteoarthritis of the hip. In the primary care initiative a center will be developed within the UNC General Internal Medicine practice that will be used to integrate decision aids for diabetes, chronic pain, and weight loss surgery into primary care clinic practice.

Principal Investigator: Carmen Lewis, M.D., M.P.H. (7/08-present);

Funding Source: Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, Inc.

Total Project Period: 07/04 – 06/30/13