Sharing decisions on SDM skills teaching: a collaborative course development

Abstract for teaching poster – EACH summer conference 2015 Author: Annegrethe Nielsen, MA & Ph.D., senior lecturer at University College Northern Denmark, [email protected] Title Sharing decisions on SDM skills teaching – a collaborative course development Background Patient involvement and shared decision making (SDM) are currently subjects to special attention in the Danish healthcare system. Recent research has shown that many Danish professionals find it difficult to implement SDM in their clinical practice. Following a pilot project for midwives in 2013, an interdisciplinary course for professionals involved in antenatal care and obstetrics was conducted. Aim The aim of the course was: • teaching a group of professionals the skills of SDM • enhancing the awareness of the complex task of SDM • developing competence within the group of professionals to secure an ongoing awareness and training of the skills Method As SDM is recognized by politicians and administrators as an important form of co-operation with patients, it is crucial to engage the professionals in this development. The course was planned in cooperation between a university college lecturer who acted as facilitator and two midwives who had been participants in the pilot project. As the course’ activities were carried out the two midwives became increasingly involved in facilitating the teaching activities with their colleagues in the hope that the focus on communication skills development can be retained. Plan of the course The participants make a video of themselves performing a consultation with a pregnant woman and her family. In groups of 5-6 the participants meet 2 times with the facilitator and discuss the videos with regard to patient involvement and more or less shared decisions. Barriers for implementation of SDM and lack of specific competence to carry it out are recognized. Based on these training needs two workshops for all the participants are conducted. The activities at the workshops are planned in cooperation with the co-facilitators. The activities include skills training utilizing roleplaying and video and structured group discussions of the barriers revealed. Perspectives This work-based teaching program focus on everyday problems brought up by the participants and the form of the program encourage the professionals to cooperate in the development of new skills. The program represents a bottom-up approach to quality development of professional practice that can yield commitment and context sensitive solutions to the communicative challenges in sharing decisions with patients. Planning and conducting courses in collaboration with practitioners may help developing the changes in organizational culture Submission ID: 042 Submission Title: Sharing decisions on SDM skills teaching – a collaborative course development Name: Annegrethe Nielsen