Purpose: An environmental scan of shared decision making (SDM) training programs for healthcare professionals showed that they vary widely in how and what they deliver. We sought to identify a list of core competencies for SDM training programs.
Method: In April 2012, we convened an interdisciplinary and international group of educators, policy-makers, clinicians, patient representatives, health communicators, students and experts in SDM models to a two-day workshop in Quebec City. The workshop consisted of participant presentations and group discussions on concepts and theories of SDM and education, existing SDM training programs, policy issues relating to training health professionals in SDM, SDM conceptual models, SDM competencies, and core competencies for SDM training programs that meet stakeholders’ needs. On day two, we invited participants to reach a consensus on a list of core competencies based on their discussions and to co-author a position paper based on the proposed list. Participants were asked to identify next steps for moving forward a list of core competencies for SDM.
Result: Presentations highlighted and precipitated discussion around definitions of SDM, learning objectives, characteristics and evaluation of existing SDM training programs, as well as stakeholders’ needs and expectations regarding SDM. Some participants believe that the Makoul & Clayman’s model is adequate and should now be widely implemented, while others wish to reflect further on SDM and define its limits for clinical decision-making. Two major groups of competencies came to the fore: relational competencies and risks communication skills. However, participants did not reach a consensus on specific competencies considered essential in SDM training programs. Nor did they reach consensus on whether this was a desirable goal to try to achieve at this point in time when little evidence is available to support which competencies to recommend. Some participants felt clinicians should have short trainings available, while others felt multiday workshops with hands-on learning opportunities are better. Next steps suggested included a team grant application by participants wishing to move forward on identifying and implementing core competencies.
Conclusion: There is no consensus on core competencies for SDM training programs for healthcare professionals among a group of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. Participants agreed that a common position paper be prepared and should include discussion of the above varied positions.
See more of: The 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Medical Decision Making