CASE STUDIES
Digital decision-making aid
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) often recurs in patients with advanced cancers, severely affecting quality of life. Treatment choices are numerous but complex, prompting the development of a clinician- and patient-informed decision support tool.
Insight
Participants emphasised that managing the pleural effusion itself was more important than addressing the broader cancer pathway. They preferred visual, easily understandable information, and highlighted that personal factors—such as activity level and home support—guided their treatment decisions.
Approach
The approach was to create an engaging, accessible resource to support clearer understanding and enable more confident, informed joint decision-making.
Using creative co-design methods, three UK pleural teams collaborated with patients and carers through local and national workshops. Due to geographical and health constraints, distributed digital approaches were used, including video-based activities and shared design sessions.
We mapped the MPE patient decision-making journey through clinical research, patient-reported outcomes, and interviews, identifying key information gaps.
A bespoke digital decision aid was then developed to:
- Translate complex clinical concepts using 2D/3D medical animations to enhance accessibility and emotional engagement.
- Enable continuous optimisation via built-in analytics, while supporting scalable adoption across 5 NHS trusts.
Results
- 81% completion rate, indicating strong engagement with the full decision-making journey.
- 95% of patients found the content helpful, supporting improved understanding and confidence in treatment discussions.
- Tool adopted across NHS settings, demonstrating scalability and real-world relevance for patient support.
