A review of shared decision-making: A call to arms for health care professionals

To illustrate the use of shared decision-making (SDM) and SDM tools and aids as the essential components in the care of asthma.

We reviewed individual randomized controlled studies conducted between 1998 and 2020 to compare SDM interventions and the use of SDM tools and aids for the care of asthma. All studies were published or translated in English.

We excluded studies of interventions that involved multiple components other than the SDM intervention unless the control group also received these interventions. We evaluated the existing literature on both SDM tools and aids and the process of SDM to summarize in this review.

Shared decision-making tools and aids most commonly clarify the diagnostics and options for a treatment. The 6 elements of SDM were clearly supported. We found no considerable association between the presence of these elements of SDM and asthma outcomes.

We found that SDM for asthma and SDM tools and aids were often made to transfer information about asthma treatment options and their harms and benefits. The correlation between their support of SDM key elements and their impact on asthma outcomes is often difficult to ascertain but when present, there was positive correlation to improving risk communication, adherence, patient satisfaction, and possibly decreasing liability.