Patients' experiences of shared decision‐making in nursing care: A qualitative study

Abstract Aim To explore patients' experiences of shared decision‐making, in nursing care during their stay in a healthcare institution. Design This study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Methods Twenty participants were interviewed from two rehabilitation centres, a nephrology ward of a hospital, and a rehabilitation ward of a long‐term care facility. A constant comparative method was used for the inductive analysis. Results The main theme was ‘feeling seen and understood’, in the context of person‐centred care, which served as the unifying thread across five themes. The five themes included the importance of a positive nurse–patient relationship as a foundation for shared decision‐making. Next, patients experienced collaboration, and this was influenced by verbal and non‐verbal communication. Another theme was that patients often felt overwhelmed during their stay, affecting shared decision‐making. The fourth theme was that many decisions were not made through the shared decision‐making process but were still perceived as satisfactory. The final theme highlighted patients' perspectives on their role in decision‐making and influencing factors. Conclusion Patients describe how feeling seen and understood is a prerequisite for shared decision‐making as a part of person‐centred care. For nurses, this implies that they should focus on aspects such as building a good relationship and acknowledgement of patients' feelings and circumstances, next to empowering patients to feel knowledgeable and valued. This way patient's motivation to participate in shared decision‐making will be enhanced. Reporting Method Following the EQUATOR guidelines, reporting was guided by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Patient or Public Contribution Patients were involved in the study through interviews during the research process and member checks during analysis. Implications for the profession and/or patient care Before initiating shared decision‐making processes, prioritise making the patient feel seen and understood. Be mindful that patients often feel overwhelmed during their stay. Use a person‐centred approach to make patients feel knowledgeable—this empowers them for shared decision‐making. Impact Research on patients' experiences of shared decision‐making in nursing care is limited, yet crucial for understanding patients' needs in shared decision‐making. This study highlights patients' perceptions that shared decision‐making is best facilitated within the nurse–patient relationship by nurses who primarily focus on ensuring that patients feel acknowledged and understood.