The OPTION Scale: Measuring Patients' Perceptions of Shared Decision-Making in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Involving patients in the decision-making process is now widely accepted as appropriate and ethical during consultations, particularly when several options are available. The aim of this study is to measure the patients' perceptions of shared decision-making practices during clinical encounters in Saudi Arabia.

This study employs a quantitative cross-sectional design. The OPTION scale was translated to Arabic. The questionnaire's content validity was assessed using an expert panel review. The questionnaire was then administered to 291 participants through online recruitment.

Participants reported positive perceptions of shared decision-making practices in Saudi Arabia. The lowest perceived shared decision-making scores were from patients who visited the internal medicine department (f = 2.163, P = 0.009). Participants who received care from female physicians reported significantly higher levels of involvement in the shared decision-making process compared to male physicians (t = -2.732, P = 0.007). Although the majority of the participants in the study were from Eastern Province, this province documented the lowest mean perceived decision-making score by the patients compared to other provinces within Saudi Arabia (f = 3.613, P = 0.007). Female participants in the study had a higher shared decision-making score than the male participants (t = -3.644, P < 0.0001).

Generally, the study results confirmed that shared decision-making in the Saudi health system includes significant patient involvement. Interventions that enhance the culture of shared decision-making in Saudi Arabia are necessary to ensure better adherence to treatment plans and thus better health outcomes.