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. 2015 Feb;62(2):184-185.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.25124. Epub 2014 Oct 12.

Shared decision making for hydroxyurea treatment initiation in children with sickle cell anemia

Lori E Crosby  1   2 , Lisa M Shook  2   3 , Russell E Ware  2   3   4 , William B Brinkman  2   5   6
Affiliations

Shared decision making for hydroxyurea treatment initiation in children with sickle cell anemia

Lori E Crosby et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Clinical trials have demonstrated hydroxyurea's efficacy in improving health outcomes for children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) who have medical complications. New NHLBI clinical guidelines will recommend offering hydroxyurea to young patients regardless of clinical severity. Shared decision making may be an effective approach for implementing this practice change. Decision aids that help patients/parents feel empowered to make this decision and help providers feel comfortable in discussing hydroxyurea as a preventive treatment may facilitate shared discussions between families and providers. We recommend six strategies providers can use to facilitate these discussions while decision aids and tools are being developed. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:184-185. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: decision‐making; guidelines; pediatrics; sickle cell anemia; therapeutics.

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Conflict of interest statement

No financial relationships exist that might lead to a conflict of interest for the authors. REW was a member of the NHLBI-appointed guidelines writing committee.

References

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