About Us

We began developing PADA in May 2021. Working with potential users who were members of our research team, we created a preliminary architecture and then began developing a UX mockup. A subsequent research project enabled us to present the mockup to potential users to optimize it. This work was crucial to the current minimum viable version of the product.

The decision aid template used by PADA, the Decision Box, is based on research conducted since 2011. We used participatory research approaches to reduce the complexity of the template. We then assessed its effectiveness in increasing the knowledge of health professionals, and the barriers and facilitators to its integration in primary care clinics.

We are currently undertaking a project to test the performance of the current version of PADA in practice. This project will allow us to develop a more complete version that meets the needs expressed in the tests, and to draw up a marketing plan.


Research Lead: Anik Giguere, PhD

2480, chemin de la Canardière, Room #139, Quebec QC Canada, G1J 0A4
T: 418-663-2131, extension 12251
@: anik.giguere@fmed.ulaval.ca

Anik Giguère leads an interdisciplinary team dedicated to developing and evaluating knowledge transfer tools that empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Her efforts focus on improving health services through a variety of approaches, including continuous professional development and patient decision aids.

Her main goal is to refine the methods used to create these tools. She applies rigorous methods such as needs assessment, systematic review, and user-centered design, to ensure that the final products not only meet people's needs, but also adhere to the highest quality standards. Ultimately, she works to ensure that people have more accurate expectations about the potential benefits and risks of their health options, that they participate more actively in health-related decisions, and that they make choices that are more in line with their values.

Development Lead: Philippe Fekete

210-1220, boulevard Lebourgneuf, Québec, Canada,
G2K 2G4
T: 418-476-1918 extension 201
@: philippe.fekete@toumoro.com

Philippe is an experienced web entrepreneur with a track record of 18 years in the industry. In 2007, he founded Toumoro, a dynamic company at the forefront of web and digital solutions. Drawing on cutting-edge expertise and best practices, Toumoro's team of 25 experts is dedicated to supporting the PADA platform. The firm's pursuit of excellence makes it the ideal partner to support this innovation, while its active involvement in research projects drives PADA's continuous development.

The Toumoro team is committed to supporting every stage of PADA's development, prioritizing user experience and helping develop a platform that seamlessly adapts to modern expectations and fits into the intended context. Taking a proactive approach, Toumoro is also fully responsible for managing the IT side of PADA, ensuring an optimized user experience and setting strict security standards to ensure absolute safety and trust.

Co-investigators involved in the design of the first PADA mock-up (2021)

  • Carissa Bonner, MPH, PhD
    Research Fellow, School of Public Health, University of Sydney (Australia); Deputy Director, Sydney Health Literacy Lab; Decision Aid author
  • Paulina Bravo, Nurse, PhD
    Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica (Chile); Decision Aid author
  • Émilie Dionne, PhD
    Researcher, Researcher, VITAM - Research Centre on Sustainable Health; Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, Université Laval
  • Jean Légaré
    Patient partner in several digital health research projects
  • France Légaré, MD, PhD
    Full Professor, Université Laval, Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation, Decision Aid author
  • Kirsten McCaffery, BSc (Hons), PhD, FAHMS
    NHMRC Principal Research Fellow & Director of Research, School of Public Health, University of Sydney (Australia); Decision Aid author; Director, Sydney Health Literacy Lab
  • Karina Prévost
    Patient partner in several projects on chronic diseases; Decision Aid author
  • Kevin Selby, MD, MSc
    Researcher and General Practitioner, Unisanté Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, Lausanne (Switzerland); Decision Aid author
  • Dawn Stacey, RN, PhD, FCAHS, FAAN, FCAN, CON(C)
    Distinguished Professor, University of Ottawa; Director, Patient Decision Aids Research Group; Decision Aid author
  • Sharon E Straus, MD, FRCPC, MSc
    Professor, University of Toronto; Scientist, Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute; Director, Knowledge Translation Program; Physician-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Brett Thombs, PhD
    Professor, McGill University; Canada Research Chair in Patient-engaged Disease Management and Prevention; Member, Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care; Author of Clinical Practice Guidelines

Funding

Funding for PADA development and the research to evaluate it has been provided by the following organizations: