Objective: To explore the relationship between personal characteristics of older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and perceived shared decision making (SDM) resp. decisional conflict.
Methods: In a video-observational study (N = 213) data were collected on personal characteristics. The main outcomes were perceived level of SDM and decisional conflict. The mediating variable was participation in the SDM process. A twostep mixed effect multilinear regression and a mediation analysis were performed to analyze the data.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 77.3 years and 56.3% were female. Health literacy (β.01, p < .001) was significantly associated with participation in the SDM process. Education (β = -2.43, p = .05) and anxiety (β = -.26, p = .058) had a marginally significant direct effect on the patients' perceived level of SDM. Education (β = 12.12, p = .002), health literacy (β = -.70, p = .005) and anxiety (β = 1.19, p = .004) had a significant direct effect on decisional conflict. The effect of health literacy on decisional conflict was mediated by participation in SDM.
Conclusion: Health literacy, anxiety and education are associated with decisional conflict. Participation in SDM during consultations plays a mediating role in the relationship between health literacy and decisional conflict.
Practice implications: Tailoring SDM communication to health literacy levels is important for high quality SDM.
Keywords: Multiple chronic conditions; Older adults; Patient participation; Personal characteristics; Shared decision making health literacy.
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