Shared decision making: examining key elements and barriers to adoption into routine clinical practice (2013)

Summary

This article in the journal Health Affairs describes the three essential elements of shared decision making:

• Recognising and acknowledging that a decision is required
• Knowing and understanding the best available evidence
• Incorporating the patient's values and preferences into the decision.

The authors argue that more physicians need training in the approach, systems need to be reorganised around the principles of patient engagement, and more research is needed to identify which interventions are most effective.