The Patients Association - Shared decision making from the perspective of clinicians and healthcare professionals (20 June 2022)

Summary

Shared decision making involves ensuring patients are able to contribute meaningfully to decisions about their care. Healthcare professionals ensure patients are informed of the options available to them and fully involve patients in making treatment decisions. This report by the Patients Association sets out the views of 1,416 healthcare professionals on shared decision making, expressed in an online survey in Spring 2022. Respondents included GPs, consultants, specialist nurses and practice nurses.

The survey found that most healthcare professionals are positive about shared decision making, but feel their ability to practice it regularly is limited by the current situation in the NHS. Many said that lack of time, gaps in the workforce and large caseloads prevented them partnering with patients to make decisions about treatment and care together.