Shared decision-making in stroke: an evolving approach to improved patient care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Clinical decision-making
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) involves patients, families, and clinicians integrating patient values with medical evidence.
• SDM is promoted in Western contexts and explored globally, including China.
• SDM can improve patient knowledge, participation, satisfaction, and trust.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role and challenges of shared decision-making (SDM) in stroke care.
• To identify strategies for overcoming barriers to SDM implementation.
• To highlight the need for further research on SDM in stroke contexts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on SDM.
• Analysis of barriers and facilitators for SDM in clinical practice.
• Identification of existing decision aids and research gaps.

Main Results:

• SDM offers potential long-term benefits for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems.
• Successful SDM requires clinicians to understand patient values and evidence-based options.
• Barriers to SDM include physician, patient, family, cultural, and system factors.

Conclusions:

• Effective SDM in stroke care necessitates overcoming identified barriers through clinician motivation, patient engagement, and supportive tools.
• Decision aids exist for specific stroke-related decisions, but broader application and research are needed.
• Future research should focus on cultural adaptations and stroke-specific SDM strategies.