Development of the Dissensus-Based Decision-Making Support Self-Evaluation Scale (DBDMS) for Japanese mental health and welfare professionals: emphasising value balance in shared decision-making

Objective In shared decision-making (SDM) in mental health, aligning the values of service users and care providers is challenging. In this study, we developed and validated the Dissensus-Based Decision-Making Support Self-Evaluation Scale (DBDMS), which emphasises the balancing of values by care providers, and examined its validity and reliability.Methods Dissensus episodes were first identified through interviews with 12 service users. Based on survey results from service users, an interview guide was created, and a 19-item draft of the DBDMS was developed through interviews with care providers and a literature review. A cross-sectional survey was then conducted among care providers providing support to local service users. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined factor structure validity. Cronbach’s α coefficient was calculated to assess internal consistency.Results Data from 295 participants were analysed. Exploratory factor analysis identified 13 items across four factors, and confirmatory factor analysis supported this four-factor structure. The Cronbach’s α coefficient for the full scale was 0.778.Discussion The DBDMS appears to be a useful tool in the mental health field, allowing care providers to self-assess their current SDM practices from the perspective of the balance of values.