Perceptions and experiences of older patients and healthcare professionals regarding shared decision-making in pulmonary rehabilitation: A qualitative study

Objective: To understand the perceptions and experiences of older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding shared decision-making in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Design: A qualitative study using single, semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis. Setting: Face-to-face interviews were conducted in the Jiangnan University, in hospital and in patients’ homes. Participants: Twenty-two older patients with COPD and 29 HCPs. Methods: An initial codebook and semi-structured interview guide were developed based on the shared decision-making 3-circle conceptual model. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Results: The study identified 10 themes that describe the perceptions and experiences of patients and HCPs involved in PR decision-making: (1) patients’ confidence, (2) patients’ perceptions of the cost-benefit of decisions, (3) patients’ perceived stress about the consequences of decision-making, (4) HCPs’ perceived stress on shared decision-making, (5) cognitive biases of patients toward illness and rehabilitation, (6) shared decision-making as a knowledge gap, (7) the knowledge gap between patients and HCPs, (8) authority effect, (9) family support, (10) human resources. These themes were then divided into three groups according to their characteristics: (1) the feelings of the participants, (2) knowledge barriers, and (3) support from the social system. Conclusion: Patients and HCPs described their negative perceptions and experiences of participating in decision-making in PR. The implementation of shared decision-making in PR is currently limited; therefore, health education for patients and families should be strengthened and a training system for HCPs in shared decision-making should be established.