Physicians' Perspectives Toward Shared Decision Making in Developing Countries.

Aims: To evaluate Iranian physicians’ perspectives on shared decision making by validating and translating the physician version of a shared decision making questionnaire (SDM-Q-DOC). Place and Duration: Iranian Evidence-Based Medicine Center of Excellence, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, from June 2012 to July 2013. Methods: The physician version of a shared decision making questionnaire (SDM-QDOC) was translated and validated through a pilot study among urologists in one of the hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. A validated questionnaire was handed out among Iranian physicians in three main hospitals of Urmia. The results were analyzed using factorial analysis SPSS 16 software. To assess reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess testretest value. Results: The Persian version of the questionnaire showed an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach alpha=0.901). In the implementation phase, Iranian physicians were generally in favor of the SDM process ( mean score=74.4%) but their perspective on different phases of SDM were different, with 93% answering questions evaluating physicians’ clinical explanations to their patients and only 68% agreeing with questions evaluating physicians’ attitudes regarding involving patients in the last treatment option. Conclusion: The physician version of SDM-Q-DOC is a valid and reliable questionnaire assessing physicians’ attitudes toward the SDM process. In this study, Iranian physicians showed a positive view to SDM.

Shared Decision-Making and Its Correlation with Demographic Characteristics of Iranian Patients.

Aims: To evaluate relationship between patient age, location and their preference toward partnership in clinical decision making Place and Duration: A university-based clinic, Tabriz University of medical sciences, Tabriz, Iran from March to September Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 200 patients were randomly selected for the study. Patients’ demographic indicators and attitude toward partnership with their doctor was assessed by the use of an author-developed questionnaire containing 12 questions. Validity of this questionnaire was previously confirmed. The data was finally collected and analyzed. Results: Fifty three percent (53%) of patients were male and 47% was female. Mean age was 33.88 (SD=11.35). Of the 200 patients, 66% had tendency toward shared decision making (SDM). There was a positive correlation between higher level of education and SDM in Iranian patients. Conclusion: We found a trend toward shared decision making among patients. We conclude that raising literacy could change the culture of patient-physician relationship within the country.