title: [Shared decision making].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The demand for integration of patients in medical decisions becomes more and more obvious. Little is known about whether patients are willing and ready to share therapeutic decisions. So far information is lacking, whether existing communication skills of both -- patients and physicians -- are sufficient for shared decision making (SDM). This paper presents new data on patients perspectives regarding SDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized survey of 3058 German speaking people (1565 females, 1493 males), aged 18-79 years, a population based random sample of an access panel (pool of german households available for specific surveys) regarding the following topics: medical decision making in practice, communication skills and behaviour of physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of patients approved the model of SDM. However, some subgroups of patients, especially older patients, were less interested in the concept of SDM. Necessary communication skills which may help patients to participate in decision making were used rather scarcely. Patients who approved the model of SDM more often experienced a common and trustful exchange of information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients favour the concept of SDM. The communication skills necessary for this process are to be promoted and extended. Research on patients' preferences and their participation in health care reform should be intensified. Academic and continuous medical education should focus on knowledge transfer to patients.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät für Medizin, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Witten.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Floer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Böcken
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Streich
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kunstmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isfort
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butzlaff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class