Patient Involvement in Shared Decision-Making: Do Patients Rate Physicians and Nurses Differently?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Patient-centered care
• Clinical communication

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) involves patients and healthcare professionals jointly deciding on clinical exams, treatments, and care options.
• Patient involvement in SDM improves treatment compliance and reduces complication risks.
• Patient involvement in care processes remains under-investigated in Italy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient perceptions of SDM with physicians and nurses.
• To examine the relationship between SDM, patient satisfaction, and perceived quality of care.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted in two Italian hospital wards from March to June 2019.
• Inpatients completed questionnaires at admission and discharge, assessing SDM, satisfaction, and perceived care quality.
• 151 patients completed both questionnaires, providing data for analysis.

Main Results:

• Patients rated SDM significantly higher with physicians than nurses across all domains (information, needs, planning).
• Physician ratings for SDM remained consistent from admission to discharge; nurse ratings improved significantly.
• Attention to patient needs was key for satisfaction with nurses, while providing information was crucial for physician satisfaction and perceived treatment quality.

Conclusions:

• Nurses require sensitization to patient involvement in decision-making, particularly upon hospital admission.
• Implementing targeted communication training for nurses can enhance patient relationships and care experiences.
• Findings highlight the importance of tailored communication strategies to improve SDM and patient outcomes.