Decision-making preference and opportunity in VA ambulatory care patients: association with patient satisfaction

Using data from the Veterans Health Study, associations were examined for decision-making preference, decision-making opportunity, and satisfaction with medical care among a sample of 266 men who use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ambulatory health care services. Results indicated that veterans with a high preference for involvement in decision-making and low provider-offered decision-making opportunities had significantly lower satisfaction with medical care compared to veterans with either low preference for decision-making involvement with high or low opportunity, or those with a high decision-making preference and high decision-making opportunity. The findings suggest that health care providers may increase patient satisfaction with medical care by providing opportunities for decision-making to patients who prefer involvement in their health care decision-making. Provider strategies for increasing patient decision-making involvement are discussed.