Healthcare professionals' views on factors influencing shared decision-making in primary health care centres in Saudi Arabia : a qualitative study

Objective

To describe the perspectives of healthcare professionals regarding the implementation of Shared decision-making (SDM) in primary healthcare centres (PHCCs) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive and snowball sample of healthcare professionals in PHCCs. Interviews have been recorded, transcribed, translated and thematically analysed. Themes were mapped to the COM-B model.

Results

Sixteen healthcare professionals were interviewed. The data analysis identified six themes and 14 sub-themes. The six themes are patient related factors, health professional related factors, environmental context and resources, patient–physician communication, patient–physician preferences toward SDM and physicians' perceived value and benefits of SDM. Physicians are unlikely to practice SDM in the context of time pressures, shortage of physicians, lack of treatment options, and decision-making aids. The findings also underscored the importance of building a trustworthy physician-patient relationship through the use of effective conversation techniques.

Conclusions

There are multiple barriers to SDM in primary care. Unless these barriers are addressed, it is unlikely that physicians will effectively or fully engage in SDM with patients.