Open AccessExploration of shared decision‐making processes among dieticians and patients during a consultation for the nutritional treatment of dyslipidaemia
Author(s) -
Vaillancourt Hugues,
Légaré France,
Gag MariePierre,
Lapointe Annie,
Deschênes SarahMaude,
Desroches Sophie
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1111/hex.12250
Subject(s) - dieticians , medicine , psychology , family medicine
Background Shared decision making ( SDM ) holds great potential for improving the therapeutic efficiency and quality of nutritional treatment of dyslipidaemia by promoting patient involvement in decision making. Adoption of specific behaviours fostering SDM during consultations has yet to be studied in routine dietetic practice. Objective Using a cross‐sectional study design, we aimed to explore both dieticians' and patients' adoption of SDM behaviours in dietetic consultations regarding the nutritional treatment of dyslipidaemia. Methods Twenty‐six dieticians working in local health clinics in the Q uebec C ity metropolitan area were each asked to identify one dyslipidaemic patient they would see in an upcoming consultation. Based on the T heory of P lanned B ehaviour ( TPB ), questionnaires were designed to study two targeted SDM behaviours: ‘to discuss nutritional treatment options for dyslipidaemia’ and ‘to discuss patients’ values and preferences about nutritional treatment options for dyslipidaemia'. These questionnaires were administered to the dietician–patient dyad individually before the consultation. Associations between TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control) towards behavioural intentions were analysed using S pearman's partial correlations. Results Thirteen unique patient‐dietician dyads completed the study. Perceived behavioural control was the only TPB construct significantly associated with both dieticians' and patients' intentions to adopt the targeted SDM behaviours ( P < 0.05). Conclusions As perceived behavioural control seems to determine dieticians' and patients' adoption of SDM behaviours, interventions addressing barriers and reinforcing enablers of these behaviours are indicated. This exploratory study highlights issues that could be addressed in future research endeavours to expand the knowledge base relating to SDM adoption in dietetic practice.