Shared decision-making is a joint process in which a healthcare professional works together with a person to reach a decision about care. It involves choosing tests and treatments based both on evidence and on the person’s individual preferences, beliefs, and values. It makes sure the person understands the risks, benefits, and possible consequences of different options through discussion and information sharing.
The main benefits of shared decision making are the following:
- it allows people to discuss and share information. This makes sure people have a good understanding of the benefits, harms, and possible outcomes of different options.
- it empowers people to make decisions about the treatment and care that is right for them at that time. This includes choosing to continue with their current treatment or choosing no treatment at all.
- it allows people the opportunity to choose to what degree they want to engage in decision making. Some people prefer not to take an active role in making decisions with their healthcare professionals.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Shared decision-making
To go in depth
A useful visual summary
This framework from the National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) sets out a series of standards to support people using patient decision aids.
National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE). Standards framework for shared-decision-making support tools, including patient decision aids.
Mapping concepts of shared decision making
This is a taxonomy and mapping developed with the aim to help clinicians better understand the concepts related to shared decision-making in healthcare.Ervin K et al. Developing a taxonomy and mapping concepts of shared decision making to improve clinicians understanding. Nurse Care Open Acces J. 2017;3(1):204-210
Videos
An example of shared decision-making
This animation has been realized by the Centre for Perioperative Care, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and Choosing Wisely UK for patients, to demonstrate what effective shared decision-making should look like
Source: Peter’s Journey: An Example of Shared Decision Making
A short film about shared decision-making
This video, realized at The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre describes how shared decision-making could help patients to plan for surgery.
Source: The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. A short film about Shared Decision Making
Shared decision-making: an overview
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) shows what shared decision-making is, how it works and why it should be incorporated into routine healthcare.
Source: ACSQHC – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. What is Shared decision-making.
