Perioperative shared decision making - How do we train clinicians?

Decision making about high-risk surgery can be complex, particularly when outcomes may be uncertain. Clinicians have a legal and ethical responsibility to support decision making which fits with patients' values and preferences. In the UK, preoperative assessment and optimisation is led by Anaesthetists in clinic several weeks prior to planned surgery. Training in supporting shared decision making (SDM) has been identified as an area of need among UK anaesthetists with leadership roles in perioperative care.

We describe adaptation of a generic SDM workshop to perioperative care, in particular to decisions on high-risk surgery, and its delivery to UK healthcare professionals over a two-year period. Feedback from workshops were thematically analysed. We explored further improvements to the workshop and ideas for development and dissemination.

The workshops were well received, with high satisfaction for techniques used, including video demonstrations, role-play and discussions. Thematic analysis identified a desire for multidisciplinary training and training in using patient aids.

Qualitative findings suggest workshops were considered useful with perceived improvement in SDM awareness, skills and reflective practice.

This pilot introduces a new modality of training in the perioperative setting providing physicians, particularly Anaesthetists, with previously unavailable training needed to facilitate complex discussions.