Guided Self-Determination - What does "guided" mean in connection with self-determination?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare decision-making
• Patient empowerment
• Translational research

Background:

• Persistent challenges exist in empowering healthcare users.
• Guided Self-Determination (GSD) is an empowerment-based method for decision-making and problem-solving.
• GSD's effectiveness is established across various long-term conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the "guided" and "self-determination" components of the GSD method.
• To address potential misunderstandings regarding the GSD method's name.
• To provide a scientific discussion on the GSD method's principles.

Main Methods:

• Expert discussion involving translational empowerment, self-determination theory, and GSD.
• Analysis of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) strengths and practical limitations.
• Description of GSD's use of reflection sheets for user preparation and active involvement.

Main Results:

• Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has strong conceptualization but lacks practical clinical application support.
• GSD utilizes reflection sheets to prepare users for active participation with healthcare professionals (HCPs).
• GSD facilitates user self-insight via values clarification, enabling discovery of personal change potential and constructive decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Guidance that respects and fosters autonomy leads to genuine self-determination.
• Guidance and self-determination are complementary, not contradictory.
• Empowerment-based methods like GSD enhance user self-determination in clinical decision-making and problem-solving.