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

Lama Sultan; Nynke de Jong; Basim Alsaywid; Muhammad Anwar Khan; Jascha de Nooijer

doi:10.2147/AMEP.S450166

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

Adv Med Educ Pract. 2024 Apr 6:15:281-291. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S450166. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Lama Sultan^{1

2}, Nynke de Jong³, Basim Alsaywid^{4

5}, Muhammad Anwar Khan⁶, Jascha de Nooijer⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Nutrition, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
² School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
³ Department of Health Services Research, School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NL, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Urology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Education and Research Skills Directory, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Health Promotion, School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.

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.