Data from the paper: Shared Decision Making during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic pushed some of the most well-developed healthcare
systems to their limits. In many cases, this has challenged patient-centered care. We set out to
examine individuals’ attitudes towards shared decision making (SDM) and to identify
predictors of participation preference during the pandemic.
Methods: We conducted an online survey with a large convenience sample (N = 1061). Our
main measures of interest were participants’ generic and COVID-19 related participation
preferences, and their acceptance and distress regarding a triage vignette. We also assessed
anxiety, e-health literacy, and aspects of participants’ health. We conducted group
comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses on participation preference and triage
acceptance.
Results: In generic decision making, most participants expressed a strong need for
information and a moderate participation preference. In the hypothetical case of COVID-19
infection, the majority preferred physician-led decisions. Generic participation preference was
the strongest predictor for COVID-19 related participation preference, followed by age,
education and anxiety. Furthermore, higher generic and COVID-19 related participation
preferences both predicted lower triage acceptance.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate potential healthcare recipients’ attitudes towards SDM
during a severe healthcare crisis and emphasize that participation preference varies according
to the context.