The importance of shared decision-making and informed choice in healthcare

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Delivering high-quality care starts with understanding what matters most to each patient. Clinicians can’t choose treatments that match patients’ priorities and values until they engage with them.

The process of communicating and engaging with patients is dependent upon two foundational pillars of patient-centric care: participating in shared decision-making and obtaining informed consent, better termed “informed choice.” Patients can exercise informed choice only when they are truly made aware of the risks, benefits and alternatives that exist relative to treatment.

What is shared decision-making?

Shared decision-making is a process by which healthcare providers work collaboratively with their patients to make decisions about the most appropriate treatment, using the following criteria:

1. Best available...