Exploring Perceptions and Practices of Interprofessional Shared Decision-Making Education in Palliative Care Settings

Abstract

Background

Palliative care teams provide support to patients and their caregivers during terminal illness, which requires interprofessional collaboration. One of the foundational skills is to assist patients with decision-making. This can be facilitated through interprofessional shared decision-making (IP-SDM). So far, IP-SDM education frameworks have only been used to a limited extent in the area of palliative care.

Aim

This study aims to explore perceptions and practices of faculty members, health professionals, and students toward IP-SDM education in palliative care and to indicate associated factors to implement an IP-SDM in undergraduate health professions education in palliative care settings.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional study design in which the data was obtained via an online self-administered questionnaire adapted from existing validated tools. The questionnaire was distributed to faculty members and health professionals (n = 125) and students (n = 334) at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The sampling technique was a non-probability convenience sampling. Bivariate statistics, such as independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and linear multiple regression were conducted.

Findings

The response rate was 54% (85 faculty members and health professionals and 164 students). Perceptions on IP-SDM did not differ between participants. From those who had previous experience with IP-SDM, the mean practices score was slightly higher for faculty members and health professionals (M = 83.1, SD = 15.9) than for students (M = 74.1, SD = 11.5), which was significant (p < 0.05). Factors such as gender, age, discipline, nationality, level of education, years of study, and previous experience that were associated with perceptions and practices were varied among participants.

Conclusion

The findings show high levels of perception with low levels of practice of IP-SDM in palliative care. Other factors that could be associated with the topic should be addressed in further studies.

Keywords:

• health professions education
• interprofessional shared decision-making
• palliative care

Ethical Approval

1. Permission obtained from the Oncology and Palliative Care Departments and from the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and the College of Applied Medical Sciences at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to start the study after approval given from King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) with an IRB no. (RJ20/242/J).

2. All the information was confidential. The identity of the participants was secured, and personal contact information was not gathered.

3. Consent was taken from each participant.

4. No marks were giving for participation in the study. The participation was completely voluntarily.

5. Data were stored in workplace computer accessed only by the research team.

6. Data were summarized and presented with honesty without any fabrication and falsification.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.