Shared Decision-Making in Action: How SPs Can Improve Patient Engagement in Treatment Plans

SPs Provide a Collaborative Approach to Shared Decision-MakingShared decision-making (SDM) between clinicians and patients is a cornerstone of effective healthcare that fosters collaboration, empowers patients with knowledge, and actively involves them in their treatment plans. Standardized patient programs and ongoing medical education are vital for developing these skills, ultimately improving patient outcomes and strengthening the patient-clinician relationship.

What is Shared Decision-Making?

Patient-centered care is defined as being respectful and conscientious of a patient’s needs, preferences, and values and that a patient’s values guide their medical decision-making. Shared Decision-Making seeks to inform patients and clients that work together to ensure they are well-informed on relevant evidence-based information, specific treatments, and decision-making related to managing their care.

The SDM process includes three key steps:

1. Decision-Making: The patient and the clinician take a collaborative approach to making appropriate decisions for the patient’s care based on the circumstances. 
2. Information Exchange: The clinician gives the patient all the necessary information related to the patient’s care, including evidence-based information, potential risks, benefits, and treatment options.
3. Deliberation: Clinicians and patients discuss options based on their values, core needs, and lifestyle preferences.

(SDM) puts patients in the driver’s seat. It empowers them to make active decisions and meet their personal goals for health success.

The Impactful Approach to Shared-Decision Making for Patients

Patients significantly impact the shared decision-making approach. Research has found that patients engaged with the SDM process showed remarkable patient satisfaction, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness results. Engagement in SDM had some patients adhere to treatment plans, and lifestyle changes ultimately resulted in satisfaction with their standard care. Patients felt more heard and trusted by their doctors and were in control of their health decision-making process. 

One 2020 study showed a 26% and 38% reduction in knee and hip replacement and a 12-21% reduction in health costs over six months after implementing the SDM process. This finding supports that the active process of patient decision-making reduces the cost of unnecessary surgery interventions.

Other reasons SDM’s framework provides impactful positive results for patients include patient healthcare transparency and tailoring specialized treatment plan needs for patients. Health plans can invest in benefit designs prioritizing comprehensive information and communication resources to ensure optimal patient-provider encounters, leading to the most appropriate medical care, rather than just reducing high-cost procedures.

Clinicians also felt the benefits of SDM through their collaborative relationship with their patients. It assists in improving communication, leading to accurate treatment plans, and meeting patient needs.

SPs Provide a Collaborative Approach to Shared Decision-Making

In a training setting, SPs allow clinicians to explore ways to engage in the shared decision-making process. They can hone their skills by refining their communication and gaining experience in making sound decisions for their patients in a supportive environment.

Here are some practical ways in which SPs engage to develop clinicians’ skills in the shared decision-making process:

1. Communication Skills: The SDM process requires that clinicians gain practical communication skills with patients. Training includes developing clinicians’ understanding of clear, concise rapport with insightful feedback. 
2. Patient-Centered Approach: This hands-on experience provides clinicians the opportunity to understand the patient’s perspective on their medical needs. This approach offers a shared commitment to support, which builds a solid foundation for a patient’s standard care needs. 
3. Building Rapport and Trust: When patients are actively engaged in their healthcare, trust and open communication result. This encourages patients to follow through with treatment plans and feel genuinely heard and valued.
4. Empathy: Empathy is an essential aspect of the SDM process. Training with SP clinicians can help them improve their emotional skills by providing compassionate care. Encouraging patients to share their needs is a valuable asset clinicians can acquire for increased patient-centered care.
5. Cultural Competency: Inclusive care is a skill needed in today’s diverse patient population. Clinicians training with SPs can develop culturally sensitive, open communication skills to ensure patients gain trust and that their preferences and needs are delivered at high standards.
6. SP Feedback and Reflection: When SPs provide feedback, it offers clinicians valuable insights into their clinical strengths and weaknesses, enhancing their understanding of soft skills and improving their approach to patient care in a healthcare setting.