Differing levels of clinical evidence: exploring communication challenges in shared decision making. Introduction

Area of Science:

• Healthcare communication
• Clinical decision-making
• Patient engagement

Background:

• Ubiquitous information access transforms healthcare roles and relationships.
• Informed patients actively participate in discussions about their health, options, and treatment tradeoffs.
• Current care processes increasingly integrate patient values and preferences into joint decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore challenges in promoting shared decisions amidst varying evidence levels.
• To propose strategies for engaging all patients in decision-making, especially those facing comprehension barriers.
• To address barriers in shared decision-making within uncertain healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• Convened health care and communication experts in September 2011.
• Held meeting under the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) John M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Annual Meeting.
• Compiled eight scholarly papers and an introductory article for a special issue.

Main Results:

• Identified challenges in shared decision-making due to differing evidence levels.
• Highlighted potential disenfranchisement of patients with barriers to understanding scientific information.
• Recognized the need for strategies to engage diverse patient populations in healthcare choices.

Conclusions:

• Shared decision-making requires addressing patient comprehension and literacy.
• Effective strategies are needed to ensure equitable patient involvement in healthcare.
• Future research should focus on overcoming barriers to inclusive shared decision-making.