Views of stakeholders on factors influencing shared decision-making in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review

Background: Shared decision-making is advocated as a key component of patient-centred care and associated with many benefits that improve patient outcomes. However, shared decision-making is not yet embedded in clinical practice and confronts many barriers that hinder its implementation especially in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Aims: We conducted a systematic review to identify and understand factors influencing shared decision-making in the Region.

Methods: We searched PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Scopus and Saudi Digital Library for articles published between January 1997 and February 2019. Studies conducted in the Region that reported barriers, facilitators, experiences, expectations and attitudes to shared decision-making were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies in this review.

Results: Of the 1813 initial articles retrieved, 19 eligible articles were identified. The main factors that emerged were grouped under three broad themes: participant factors (patients/families and physicians); consultation factors (relationship between participants, engaging patients, evaluating preferences, introducing options, providing information, and decision making); and healthcare system factors (organizational characteristics, time constraints, continuity of care, and healthcare resources).

Conclusions: There is growing interest in shared decision-making in several countries in the Region. However, there are many existing barriers that hinder the implementation of shared decision-making. These need to be addressed before shared decision-making can be fully adopted in these countries.