Effect of communication skills training on documentation of shared decision-making for patients with life-limiting illness: An observational study in an intensive care unit

OBJECTIVES: This article aims to examine the association between a shared decision-making (SDM) clinical communication training program and documentation of SDM for patients with life-limiting illness (LLI) admitted to intensive care. METHODS: This article used a prospective, longitudinal observational study in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU). Outcomes included the proportion of patients with SDM documented on an institutional Goals of Care Form during hospital admission, as well as characteristics, outcomes, and factors associated with an SDM admission. INTERVENTION: Clinical communication skills training (iValidate) and clinical support program are the intervention for this study. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients with LLI were admitted to the ICU and included in the study. Overall, 184 (57%) had an SDM admission, with 79% of Goals of Care Form completed by an iValidate-trained doctor. Exposure to an iValidate-trained doctor was the strongest predictor of an ICU patient with LLI having an SDM admission (odds ratio: 22.72, 95% confidence interval: 11.91–43.54, p < 0.0001). A higher proportion of patients with an SDM admission selected high-dependency unit–level care (29% vs. 12%, p < 0.001) and ward-based care (36% vs. 5%, p < 0.0001), with no difference in the proportion of patients choosing intensive care or palliative care. The proportion of patients with no deterioration plan was higher in the non-SDM admission cohort (59% vs. 0%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical communication training that explicitly teaches identification of patient values is associated with improved documentation of SDM for critically ill patients with LLI. Understanding the relationship between improved SDM and patient, family, and clinical outcomes requires appropriately designed high-quality trials randomised at the patient or cluster level.