Sharing decisions is uncomfortable for GP registrars

Although professionals are encouraged to involve patients in clinical decision making, the feasibility of a shared decision making model has not been considered in practice. On p 753 Elwyn et al report on a study that explored the views of general practice registrars about this task. They found that the concept of sharing decisions was novel and not previously considered during training. The lack of data about many treatment outcomes, coupled with difficult access to existing data, resulted in marked ambivalence towards the concept. The inevitable admission to patients that uncertainty exists about many treatments was also perceived as a potential generator of anxiety among patients. Nevertheless, the potential to improve patients' satisfaction and adherence to treatment choices was fully recognised.

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Relevant Article

Towards a feasible model for shared decision making: focus group study with general practice registrars

Glyn Elwyn, Adrian Edwards, Richard Gwyn, and Richard Grol
BMJ 1999 319: 753-756. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]