Description

The COMRADE consists of two main dimensions:
Communication of Risk: Assesses the ability of the healthcare professional to communicate clearly and effectively the risks and benefits of the available treatment options. It includes questions examining whether patients feel they have received sufficient information and whether they understand the data.
Decision Making: Examines the involvement of patients in the process of making decisions about their treatment. It includes questions about whether patients feel they participated adequately in decision making and whether their opinions and preferences were taken into account.

Analysis

The analysis of COMRADE results focuses on evaluating the quality of communication and the decision-making process. Participants respond to questions using a Likert scale, which allows them to assess how well they believe the goals of communication and decision making have been achieved.

Objective

The main objectives of COMRADE are:
Improvement of Communication: To improve healthcare professionals’ ability to communicate clearly and provide understandable information to patients.
Enhancement of Patient Participation: To promote the active involvement of patients in making decisions about their treatment, taking into account their personal preferences and values.
Evaluation of Process Effectiveness: To provide a measurable assessment of the effectiveness of communication and decision-making processes in clinical settings.

Scoring

Responses to COMRADE are evaluated using a Likert scale, usually 5 or 7 points, with higher scores indicating greater effectiveness in risk communication and decision-making. Total scores are calculated by summing the scores of individual questions for each dimension.

References

Edwards, A., Elwyn, G., Hood, K., & Rollnick, S. (2000). The development of COMRADE—a patient-based outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of risk communication and treatment decision making in consultations. Patient Education and Counseling, 50(3), 311-322.
Elwyn, G., Edwards, A., & Kinnersley, P. (1999). Shared decision-making in primary care: the neglected second half of the consultation. British Journal of General Practice, 49(443), 477-482.