What Is Shared Decision Making in Healthcare, and How Can It Help You?

When you talk with a doctor, what’s your role in the conversation? Do you feel able to ask questions and take an active role in your care? Whether you’re going to your primary care doctor for a check-up or meeting with a specialist about a condition that’s been bothering you, you may have more control over the situation than you think.

Talking about treatment options, rather than just being told what to do, is called shared decision making, and it can help you look after your health while staying happy in your relationship with your doctor.

In cases where you collaborate on your care, you can figure out a treatment plan that suits your needs and values, feel more invested in seeing that plan through, and maybe even save money by picking specific treatments and providers. So, how does this work?

What Is Shared Decision Making?

Shared decision making isn’t anything unusual. Rather, it’s just another name for discussing potential treatments with a care provider. By talking through the pros and cons of different methods and approaches, you draw up mutually satisfying next steps together.

You can do this kind of decision-making at any step in your care journey, including when you’re undergoing tests, arranging for a procedure, or receiving a prescription for a new medication.

This might not be possible in every case – sometimes, the doctor may have a very specific treatment plan in mind – but it can pay to ask questions. It could be tricky to speak up and have your voice heard, especially if you’re not used to taking a vocal role in your care, but it’s a valid approach, one that can have a big positive effect on your well-being.

What Does Shared Decision Making Mean for Your Care?

Without shared decision making, healthcare can feel a little bit impersonal. When you simply receive a treatment plan to follow, it can seem a bit disconnected from who you are as an individual. This is where shared decision making really helps, allowing you to participate in the conversation earlier and confirming that the doctor has considered your identity, preferences, and concerns.

When you get involved this way, you may find that:

• It’s easier to commit to a treatment plan because you’ve already weighed the pros and cons, and you’ve specifically picked in from a list of options.
• Your care reflects you as a person, including your preferences about what kinds of tests and treatments to receive, and where – you can collaborate with your doctor about locations, specialists, medications, and courses of treatment.
• You can better control costs through actions like picking a specific outlet for a test or procedure, or by choosing generic medications instead of name brands.

Talk to Your Provider

A conversation with your doctor can lead to big differences in your healthcare journey. This is an exciting option, and one you may not even realize you have. Next time you’re facing a care decision, you can go into the appointment with questions prepared. The best way to determine if your doctor is open to shared decision making is simply to ask!