How should patients behave to facilitate shared decision making--the doctors' view

Area of Science:

• Medical sociology
• Healthcare communication
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Shared decision making (SDM) is increasingly emphasized in healthcare.
• Understanding physician perspectives on patient engagement is crucial for effective SDM implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physicians' attitudes towards various patient behaviors within the context of shared decision making (SDM).
• To identify specific patient actions perceived as helpful or detrimental to SDM by physicians.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 238 psychiatrists and 169 vascular surgeons.
• Participants evaluated patient behaviors for their helpfulness and detriment to SDM.

Main Results:

• Physicians across disciplines generally held positive views on active patient engagement.
• Certain patient behaviors, such as independent online research or assertiveness, elicited mixed or negative physician responses.
• Physicians expressed ambivalence towards patients questioning recommendations or asserting specific preferences.

Conclusions:

• Physicians show openness to patient involvement in consultations.
• A significant finding is the negative physician reaction to patient challenges regarding recommendations or preferences.
• The study concludes that physicians need to adapt to SDM by relinquishing some decisional control and fostering flexibility.