A Qualitative Study of Stakeholders’ Perspectives of Implementing Interprofessional Shared Decision-Making Education in Palliative Care

Abstract

IntroductionShared decision-making (SDM) in palliative care is a highly complex process that requires an interdisciplinary team. Interprofessional team members need education on how to facilitate discussion of patient/family wishes at the end of life in hospital settings. So far, interprofessional shared decision-making (IP-SDM) education frameworks have been used to a limited extent in the area of education on palliative care. The aim of this study was to explore policymakers', health professionals', faculty members', and students' perspectives on implementing an IP-SDM educational framework in palliative care to identify aspects that should be prioritized to further develop interprofessional education for SDM in palliative care. MethodsWe used the qualitative method to capture the micro, meso, and macro factors using Oandasan and Reeves' model for the implementation of IP-SDM education regarding palliative care. Data collection tools included in-depth, face-to-face interviews with individual policymakers and focus group interviews with health professionals, faculty members, and undergraduate health professionals. The interview guide explores the teaching of SDM in palliative care, factors that could facilitate or hinder the implementation of IP-SDM education for health professions students in palliative care, and interventions to facilitate the implementation of this approach.