Background: This study aimed to assess patients satisfaction using leaflets based on evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) that were developed to assist in decision making in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain patients.Methods: We conducted a two-parallel-arm, crossover design, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial that included 50 patients who were recruited from the department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine of the Gwangju Medical Center. We used leaflets based on traditional KM (Korean medicine) CPG that were established with the aim of aiding clinical decision making regarding treatment for KM doctors as communication tools for patient. These leaflets included information about grade of recommendation and evidence levels. The intervention group was composed of patients to whom traditional KM doctors explained the treatment with the leaflet, and the control group received explanations about the treatment from doctors without the leaflet.
Result: We performed an inter-group comparison to evaluate the degree of satisfaction with the use of the leaflet using a 1-5 item questionnaire. In group 1, the leaflet was used in the first session of assessing the degree of satisfaction but was not used in the second one. Conversely, in group 2, we did not use the leaflet in the first session of the assessment but did use it in the second assessment. The mean levels of patient satisfaction were 23.32 points in the leaflet group and 23.36 points in the non-leaflet group. In group 2, the mean levels of patient satisfaction were 22.88 points in the non-leaflet group and 23.88 points in the leaflet group. Regarding the pattern exhibited by group 1, the effects due to the use of the leaflet might have been associated with the second session of the assessment. Regarding to the pattern exhibited by group 2, the use of the leaflet was found to be associated with an increased level of patient satisfaction. Conclusions: This study provided evidence that the provision of evidence-based CPG leaflets on shoulder pain to patients during examinations by doctors may effectively improve patient satisfaction and reduce doctor-patient information asymmetry.