Shared Decision Making (SDM), is a formalized approach to involving patients in clinical decisions. It is a practice that is gaining focus at Nova Scotia Health, as we work to support more person centered care and optimize the use of surgical resources.
A Shared Decision Making learning module: Shared Decision Making in Cardiac Interventions has been developed by Nova Scotia Health in collaboration with the Queens University Online Learning Group. The module is now available for use by providers in Nova Scotia.
The module and others in development, are part of Nova Scotia Health's multi-year Surgical Access and Quality Improvement Strategy. The strategy has quality improvement initiatives among its key areas of focus, including efforts to assure the appropriateness of surgical care.
Learning Module: Shared Decision Making Cardiac Interventions
A joint effort of the Perioperative (Surgical) Services Network and Research, Innovation and Discovery Team, the module helps health care providers increase their awareness of the key steps involved with Shared Decision Making and uses interactive vignettes / case studies to allow providers to practice their ability to hear patients’ concerns, assure understanding and help express treatment preferences.
Nova Scotia research lead by Dr. Hirsch, along with research team members, Ryan Gainer, Elias Hirsch and Sophia Roy showed that as many as one in four cardiac surgery patients regret their decision to have surgery.
This knowledge emphasized the need to increase awareness and formalize education offerings related to Shared Decision Making.
While the module currently contains cardiac case scenarios, other vignettes are under development to illustrate preference sensitive decision making amongst other specialties.
As utilization of the tool gets underway, the team will be tracking its utilization and gathering feedback on the module.
Access the Module
Physicians and other clinicians can access the module using PASSWORD SDM#2022 HERE
- The Shared Decision Making in Cardiac Interventions Learning Module is complete and ready to be used for asynchronous, self-pace, self-directed, education of health care providers.
- There are plans to incorporate the module into the Nova Scotia Health Learning Management System (LMS) to allow nursing staff access to this learning opportunity.
- Efforts are also underway to promote this resource for potential use by the Dalhousie Post Graduate Medical Education Program (PGME) and their Undergraduate Medical Education Program.
Expected Learning Outcomes
After completing the module, you will be able to:
- Define shared decision making and outline the six steps used to establish effective decision making.
- Identify why shared decision making is necessary for patient-centered care approaches.
- Recognize the potential for differences between the care team's and patient's values and preferences.
- Explore shared decision making strategies within the context of highly equipoised cardiac surgery decision making scenarios.
- Discuss barriers to effective shared decision making and how to circumvent them.
- Employ various approaches and tools to facilitate shared decision making including the team based approach, decision aids and the teach back method.
