Shared decision making on medication use between nurses and patients in an oncology setting: A qualitative descriptive study

Laura Mortelmans; Sarah Bosselaers; Eva Goossens; Helen Schultz; Tinne Dilles

doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102321

Shared decision making on medication use between nurses and patients in an oncology setting: A qualitative descriptive study

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Jun:64:102321. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102321. Epub 2023 Mar 13.

Authors

Laura Mortelmans¹, Sarah Bosselaers², Eva Goossens³, Helen Schultz⁴, Tinne Dilles⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing and Midwifery Science, Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care (NuPhaC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Leuvenseweg 38, 1000, Brussel, Belgium. Electronic address: laura.mortelmans@uantwerpen.be.
² Department of Nursing and Midwifery Science, Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care (NuPhaC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Oncology, Gasthuiszusters Antwerpen (GZA Hospital), Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
³ Department of Nursing and Midwifery Science, Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care (NuPhaC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Patient Care, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.
⁴ Surgical Department, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Nursing and Midwifery Science, Centre For Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care (NuPhaC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.

PMID: 37146350
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102321

Abstract

Purpose: (i) To explore patients' and nurses' experiences with medication-related shared decision making (SDM) (i.e., familiarity with the concept, application of medication-related SDM, barriers and facilitators towards its application) and (ii) to explore their role perceptions, respectively.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in which seven interviews with oncological patients and a focus group interview with six nurses were performed. Prior to the interviews, observations of the application of shared decision making were conducted using the OPTION-12 scale. The observations were used exclusively to trigger the group discussion. Data were collected from November 2020 until March 2021.

Results: According to participants, the application of SDM regarding medication by nurses in oncology is limited. Barriers mentioned were health status, medication-related knowledge, the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, time pressures and workload. Patients valued nurses' contribution to SDM regarding medication and perceived them as key persons because of their advocating, informative, facilitating and supportive role. Individual and contextual factors determined patients' desire for involvement in medication-related decisions.

Discussion: Participants solely concentrated on SDM concerning drug choice and management of therapeutic and adverse effects. The patients' and nurses' experiences and perceptions towards SDM in other domains of pharmaceutical care need further investigation.

Keywords: Decision Making, Shared; Medication Therapy Management; Nursing; Oncology Nursing; Qualitative Research.

MeSH terms

Decision Making
Decision Making, Shared*
Humans
Nurses*
Patient Participation
Qualitative Research