Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Sep 2023)
The Practice of Shared Decision-Making Among Physiotherapists and Patients with Musculoskeletal Conditions
Abstract
Mazyad A Alotaibi,1 Ahmed S Alhowimel,1 Faris A Alodaibi,2 Mohammed Aloraifi3 1Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Salamat Medical Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy, Hail, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mazyad A Alotaibi, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966115886354, Email [email protected]: Shared decision-making (SDM) may be interpreted as a set of core values rather than as a consensus definition. This study aimed to explore how SDM between patients and physiotherapists may lead to patient satisfaction.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relationship between SDM and patient satisfaction. The study targeted physiotherapists and patients with musculoskeletal pain or disorders. A structured questionnaire (the nine-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire) was developed to show the extent to which patients felt involved in the process by scoring nine items from 0 to 5 on a six-point scale. t-tests were performed to estimate differences in SDM perceptions between patients and physiotherapists, and regression analyses were performed to estimate the best predictors of SDM.Results: The questionnaire was completed by a total of 106 patients and nine physiotherapists. The demographic information of the samples was presented with frequency analysis. This study’s findings demonstrate no variations in the final SDM perceptions between patients and physiotherapists, but when SDM was contrasted step-by-step (as items), many variances were discovered. These distinctions reinforce the notion that regardless of the end outcome, the process of reaching a consensus has a distinct profile depending on the type of medical care. Therapists emphasize the first steps, possibly because there is sufficient evidence to make a therapeutic decision. However, patients highlight the final steps, perhaps because the moment for a decision based on the consultation’s nature is approaching.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that SDM is a complex process that must be examined in multiple stages. However, in physiotherapy contexts, this process exhibits extremely different patterns, reflecting a significantly different perspective of the decision-making process.Keywords: physical therapy, decision-making, patient preference, musculoskeletal disorders
