Perceived facilitators of and barriers to patients’ participation in shared decision making: A focus group interview of physical and occupational therapists

Abstract

[Purpose] This study assessed the perceived barriers to and facilitators of patient participation in shared decision making through a focus group interview of physical and occupational therapists. [Subjects and Methods] Five clinical therapists participated in the focus group interview. The focus group interview was conducted using semi-structured interview protocols. The protocol questions were as follows: 1. What do you think of patients’ participation? 2. What are the barriers to patients’ participation? and 3. What are the facilitators of patients’ participation? A qualitative content analysis was used to summarize and label these questions. [Results] Facilitators included patients’ autonomy in decision making, patients’ literacy, patients’ knowledge, sharing of knowledge between patients and therapists, and taking evidence into practice. Barriers included patients’ delegating attitudes, lack of therapists’ accountability, and therapists’ paternalism. [Conclusion] Physical/occupational therapists thought patients’ literacy and knowledge facilitated their participation in decision making regarding their treatment.