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Shared Decisions

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Nothing about me without me.

Shared decision-making is a process in which clinicians and patients work together to select tests, treatments, management or support packages, based on clinical evidence and the patient’s informed preferences. It involves the provision of evidence-based information about options, outcomes and uncertainties, together with decision support counselling and a system for recording and implementing patients’ informed preferences. 

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In a health encounter two experts are coming together bringing in two perspectives; The clinician’s expertise is based on knowledge of the diagnosis, likely prognosis, treatment and support options and the range of possible outcomes based on population data; the patient knows about the impact of the condition on their daily life, and their personal attitude to risk, values and preferences. In shared decision-making the patient’s knowledge and preferences are taken into account, alongside the clinician’s expertise, and the decisions they reach in agreement with each other are informed by research evidence on effective treatment, care or support strategies.

Shared decision-making is appropriate for decisions about whether to:

  • Undergo a screening or diagnostic test

  • Undergo a medical or surgical procedure

  • Participate in a self-management education programme or psychological intervention

  • Take medication

  • Attempt a lifestyle change.

Knowurture provides you with decision aids to help you in making the best decision;  our decision aids do not tell you what to do. Instead they set out the facts and help you to deliberate about the options. They contain:

  • A description of the condition and symptoms

  • The likely prognosis with and without treatment

  • The treatment and self-management support options and outcome probabilities

  • What’s known from the evidence and not known (uncertainties)

  • Illustrations to help you understand what it would be like to experience some of the most frequent side-effects or complications of the treatment options 

  • A means of helping you clarify your preferences

  • References and sources of further information

Make a shared Decision

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