Factors influencing implementation of a computerized, individualized, culturally tailored lupus decision aid in lupus clinics: a qualitative semi-structured interview study.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors that might facilitate or impede the implementation of a shared decision-making in lupus electronic tool (SMILE) in clinics by assessing perspectives of clinicians, clinic champions, and patient advocacy organization leaders.

METHODS

We conducted a series of semi-structured telephone interviews (25-45 minutes) about facilitators and barriers of implementing the SMILE decision-aid tool with 23 lupus care providers (18 physicians, 5 champions), and leaders of two patient advocacy organizations. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed.

RESULTS

Physicians and clinic champions were from 18 geographically diverse US clinics. The patient advocacy leaders were from the Lupus Foundation of America and the Arthritis Foundation. Most of the clinics were rheumatology specialty (94%), at university-based academic centers (72%), located in urban areas (72%), had a specialized lupus clinic (72%), were very interested (72%) in the SMILE tool and were ready to implement it (89%). Several specific factors, composed as four themes, were identified that could either facilitate or impede the implementation of the SMILE tool: (1) patient-related theme: patient recruitment and education, and the clinic visit time; (2) clinic-related theme: staff work-load and time, and physical space to view and use the SMILE tool; (3) technology-related theme: Wi-Fi connection and iPad navigation; and (4) management-related theme: influence on the clinics' daily workflow, the need of a study champion and coordination, and leadership support.

CONCLUSION

Physicians, staff, and patient advocacy leaders perceived the SMILE as a promising tool to facilitate patient-provider communication and quality improvement in lupus. Identification of the patient-, clinic-, technology-, and management-related barriers to the SMILE implementation will allow its integration into busy clinical practice workflow. Key Points • Physicians, staff and patient advocacy leaders perceived computerized lupus decision aid to be a promising tool to facilitate shared decision-making for lupus treatment. • Stakeholder identified patient-related, clinic-resource-related, technology-related and clinic-management related themes as barriers or facilitators to viewing computerized lupus decision aid during regular clinic visits.