Principles of Shared Decision-Making in Healthcare
Introduction
Patient-centered healthcare relies heavily on shared decision-making. It is the collaborative process by which patients and health professionals select treatments and healthcare plans and make decisions that balance the risks and expected outcomes with the preferences and values of the patients (Bae, 2017). Healthcare workers must understand the ideas behind shared decision-making and follow the basic rules outlined in the bulletin below in order to provide good care.
The Advantages of Collaborative Decision Making
Patients and healthcare professionals benefit from shared decision-making in a variety of ways.
It makes patients happier, which is good for their health (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2020).
Patients who have a say in their treatment experience less anxiety and depression, faster recovery, and higher adherence to treatment regimens (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2020).
Greater patient involvement results in lower healthcare costs (Bae 2017).
It improves the quality of communication between patients and doctors by helping both sides understand what is important to the other (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2020). This makes both patients and doctors happier.
