Darkside of Medicine
Shared Decision Making
Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative process where healthcare professionals and patients work together to make decisions about the patient’s care. It respects the patient’s right to make informed choices based on their personal values, preferences, and circumstances, while drawing on the clinician’s medical knowledge and expertise.
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Why It Matters:
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Patients feel heard and respected.
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Promotes autonomy - especially important when values or lifestyle impact the best choice.
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Leads to better outcomes - decisions are more likely to be followed and suited to the person.
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Tools That Help:
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Below is a tool that will help you to think about what is important to you - but you can also use....
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Decision aids – leaflets, videos, or online tools that help explain options.
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Question prompts – such as “What are my options?” “What are the benefits and risks?” “What matters most to me?”