Assessment of shared decision making in pediatrics: Developing German scales for patients aged 7-18 years, parents and parent-proxy reports (CollaboRATE).

OBJECTIVE

To develop parsimonious German scales (CollaboRATE) to assess shared decision making (SDM) with patients aged 7-18 years, parents and parents on behalf of their children (parent-proxy reports), and to establish comprehensibility and preliminary face validity.

METHODS

Based on an existing SDM scale for adults (CollaboRATE) we developed CollaboRATE in a two-step approach: (1) team-based translation of the English CollaboRATE scale into German and adaptation for pediatric patients, parents and parent-proxy reports, followed by (2) iterative revisions of the CollaboRATE scales based on cognitive interviews with patients and parents until comprehensibility and preliminary face validity were established.

RESULTS

Taking into account seven problem areas identified in four rounds of cognitive interviews (e.g., item complexity) we developed CollaboRATE scales for patients, parents and parent-proxy reports. By iteratively revising items we were able to resolve all problem areas and achieved full comprehensibility and intended interpretation of all items.

CONCLUSION

The scales enable the parsimonious assessment of SDM with pediatric patients and parents as well as comparisons between the two groups. Future empirical work will establish the psychometric performance of CollaboRATE.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

CollaboRATE can be used in quality improvement initiatives to foster the comprehensive implementation of SDM in pediatrics.