Key message: Shared decision-making is an important process, in which clinicians and patients work together to make decisions about care and treatment, and it can lead to better adherence to treatment and medication.
Background
A report, entitled “People in control of their own health and care: the state of involvement”, produced by the King’s Fund concentrates on individual’s involvement in their own health and care, and the involvement of an individual’s family or other carers.[Foot et al., 2014]
Shared decision-making involves the following stages:[Foot et al., 2014]
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Information exchange, in which the clinician provides reliable, evidence-based information, outlines the options, their likely outcomes, and uncertainties and risks, and the patient shares their own knowledge of the condition, and the beliefs, values and preferences that may impact on their decision.
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Deliberation, during which the options are discussed and preferences are clarified.
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Implementation, when the clinician and patient work together to achieve consensus, and the patient’s decisions are then recorded and implemented. A central part of shared decision-making is the recognition that patients and clinicians bring different, but equally important, knowledge and expertise to the process.[Foot et al., 2014; Coulter & Collins, 2011]
References:
Foot C, Gilburt H, Dunn P, et al. People in control of their own health and care: the state of involvement. The King’s Fund, 2014.2.
Coulter A, Collins A. Making shared decision-making a reality: no decision about me, without me. The King’s Fund, 2011.