What is shared decision making?
Shared decision making is when people and health professionals are partners in making decisions. They talk about a health care issue or problem. They health professional and the person share information. This two-way flow is vital. They both agree on a plan of action. This is the decision.
Most people expect to learn about tests, treatment and care options from health professionals. People (health consumers) all over the world have pushed for more shared decision making. Many health care systems now support this approach. Shared decision making is part of health care standards of quality and safety.
Shared decision making happens when people talk with health professionals about a health issue or problem. They talk about what is important to the person. They talk about what will help the person feel better. They talk about how much a test, treatment will help. Then they make a decision together about what to do next. Shared decision making brings together values, goals and preferences of people and evidence about test, treatment and care.
To share decisions people need to know the options. People need to know the how well the test, treatment or care options work (evidence). People need to know the benefits and harms of the options. People need to know the chance that the benefits or harms will happen. Health professionals need to know what is important to the person. What tests or treatments they do and don’t want to do. Knowing these things helps people reach the best health care decision for them.
