[Shared decision-making in medical practice--patient-centred communication skills].
Most patients (70%) want to participate actively in important healthcare decisions, the rest (30%) prefer the doctor to make the decision for them. Shared decision-making provides more patient satisfaction, a better quality of life and contributes to a better doctor-patient relationship. Patients making their own decision generally make a well considered and medically sensible choice. In shared decision-making the doctor asks many open questions, gives and requests much information, asks if the patient wishes to participate in the decision-making and explicitly takes into account patient circumstances and preferences. Shared decision-making should remain an individual choice and should not become a new dogma.
Openbare geestelijke gezondheidszorg (OGGZ), Altrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. r.van.staveren@altrecht.nl
Remke
R
van Staveren
D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations