Web-Based Training for Nurses on Shared Decision Making and Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Health Professional Training
• Decision Science

Background:

• Pregnant women face challenges selecting from diverse prenatal screening options.
• Decision aids and shared decision making (SDM) training programs aim to support informed choices.
• Nurses in Canadian maternity care can be trained as decision coaches, but evidence on SDM intervention effectiveness is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an SDM training program on nurses' intentions to use prenatal screening decision aids.
• To evaluate changes in nurses' knowledge regarding prenatal screening and decision aids.
• To understand nurses' overall impressions and satisfaction with the SDM training program.

Main Methods:

• A 2-arm parallel randomized trial involving French-speaking nurses in Quebec.
• Participants were randomized to either a web-based SDM training program or a control program focusing solely on prenatal screening.
• Outcomes included intention to use decision aids, knowledge, satisfaction, acceptability, and perceived usefulness, assessed via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Results are pending publication (expected Winter 2020).
• The study was funded in 2017 and data collected between September 2019 and January 2020.
• This paper was submitted before data analysis.

Conclusions:

• Study outcomes will clarify the effect of SDM training on nurses' use of prenatal screening decision aids and their knowledge.
• Findings will guide potential program upgrades based on participant feedback.
• The research aims to improve SDM implementation in maternity nursing practice.