Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Apr 2024)
Exploring Perceptions and Practices of Interprofessional Shared Decision-Making Education in Palliative Care Settings
Abstract
Lama Sultan,1,2 Nynke de Jong,3 Basim Alsaywid,4,5 Muhammad Anwar Khan,6 Jascha de Nooijer7 1Department of Clinical Nutrition, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, KSA, Saudi Arabia; 2School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; 3Department of Health Services Research, School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NL, Saudi Arabia; 4Urology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia; 5Education and Research Skills Directory, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia; 6College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, KSA, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Health Promotion, School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsCorrespondence: Lama Sultan, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs- Jeddah, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Mail Code 6660, P.O. Box.9515, Jeddah, 21423, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel +966553343478, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: 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
