RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 US-based cross-sectional survey of clinicians’ knowledge and attitudes about shared decision-making across healthcare professions and specialties
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e022730
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022730
VO 8
IS 10
A1 Rachel C Forcino
A1 Renata West Yen
A1 Maya Aboumrad
A1 Paul J Barr
A1 Danielle Schubbe
A1 Glyn Elwyn
A1 Marie-Anne Durand
YR 2018
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/10/e022730.abstract
AB Objective In this study, we aim to compare shared decision-making (SDM) knowledge and attitudes between US-based physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians across surgical and family medicine specialties.Setting We administered a cross-sectional, web-based survey between 20 September 2017 and 1 November 2017.Participants 272 US-based NPs, PA and physicians completed the survey. 250 physicians were sent a generic email invitation to participate, of whom 100 completed the survey. 3300 NPs and PAs were invited, among whom 172 completed the survey. Individuals who met the following exclusion criteria were excluded from participation: (1) lack of English proficiency; (2) area of practice other than family medicine or surgery; (3) licensure other than physician, PA or NP; (4) practicing in a country other than the US.Results We found few substantial differences in SDM knowledge and attitudes across clinician types, revealing positive attitudes across the sample paired with low to moderate knowledge. Family medicine professionals (PAs) were most knowledgeable on several items. Very few respondents (3%; 95% CI 1.5% to 6.2%) favoured a paternalistic approach to decision-making.Conclusions Recent policy-level promotion of SDM may have influenced positive clinician attitudes towards SDM. Positive attitudes despite limited knowledge warrant SDM training across occupations and specialties, while encouraging all clinicians to promote SDM. Given positive attitudes and similar knowledge across clinician types, we recommend that SDM is not confined to the patient-physician dyad but instead advocated among other health professionals.