Shared Decision Making: Improving Patient Outcomes by Understanding the Benefits of and Barriers to Effective Communication

Shared decision making (SDM) is a healthcare delivery model that mandates patient-centered care for clinical practice. Practicing SDM ensures that patients and family caregivers are engaged in making decisions about their care and treatment with healthcare providers. This article reviews the evidence on how nurses can influence the outcomes of cancer treatment decisions by using the SDM model.

AT A GLANCE

• SDM is a treatment decision-making model that requires collaboration between healthcare providers and the patient or family caregiver.
• Practicing SDM can improve patient-reported outcomes following treatment decisions.
• Competency with SDM encourages patient engagement and participation in treatment decisions and can improve the patient–provider relationship.