The impact of an educational program on nurses' shared decision making attitudes: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Medical professionals often have positive attitudes towards shared decision-making (SDM) but lack a comprehensive understanding.
• There is a need for enhanced service education to improve SDM conceptualization and practice.
• Improving SDM is crucial for enhancing the quality of care provided to patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program incorporating situational simulation video on nurses' attitudes towards shared decision-making (SDM).

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with a single-blind study design was conducted.
• Participants (n=100) were randomized into an experimental group (n=50) or a control group (n=50).
• The experimental group received a 2-week educational program on SDM concepts and situational simulation, with data collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 2 months later.

Main Results:

• A significant main effect of time was observed, indicating overall changes in SDM attitudes over time.
• No significant group-time interaction was found at the 2-month follow-up.
• While both groups showed within-group improvements in SDM attitude scores, the experimental group exhibited a greater improvement at the follow-up test.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests that educational interventions can positively influence nurses' attitudes towards shared decision-making.
• Findings provide a reference for healthcare providers designing service education to enhance SDM implementation.
• Improving SDM through education can contribute to better quality of care.