title: The challenge of shared decision making among patients with lower literacy: a framework for research and development.
abstract: There have been major advances in techniques to increase patient involvement in health decisions with the benefits of greater involvement and shared decision making now widely recognized. However, there has been little attention in the development of tools and strategies to support patient participation among adults with lower literacy, a group with poor health knowledge, limited involvement in health decisions, and poor health outcomes. The authors put forward a framework to consider the different stages of shared health decision making and the tasks and skills required to achieve each stage. They consider where current research exists in the decision making literature and where more is needed if adults with limited literacy are to be better engaged in shared decision making in health care.
authors.affiliation: Screening and Test Evaluation Program, School of Public Health, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision Making, University of Sydney, Australia. kirstenm@health.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Kirsten J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McCaffery
authors.forename: Sian K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D032882:Comprehension; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D012106:Research