title: Of blind men and elephants: suggesting SDM-MASS as a compound measure for shared decision making integrating patient, physician and observer views.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Shared decision making (SDM) between patient and physician is an interpersonal process. Most SDM measures use the view of one party (patient, physician or observer) as a proxy to capture this process although these views typically diverge. This study suggests the compound measure SDM(MASS) (SDM Meeting its concept's ASSumptions) integrating these three perspectives in one single index.
  
  
  METHODS
  SDM(MASS) was derived theoretically and compared empirically to unilateral perspectives of patients, physicians and observers by application to a data set of 10 physicians (40 consultations) receiving an SDM training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The constituting parts of SDM(MASS) were highly reliable (Cronbach's alpha .94; interrater reliability .74-.87). Unilateral appraisal of training effects was divergent. SDM(MASS) revealed no effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDM(MASS) combines noteworthy information about SDM processes from different viewpoints and thereby delivers plausible assessments. It could overcome immanent shortcomings of unilateral approaches. However, it is a complex measure needing further validation.
authors: Tumor Center, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. f.geiger@uksh.de
authors: Friedemann
authors: F
authors: Geiger
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Kasper
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D003657:Decision Making; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D008511:Medicine; D015588:Observer Variation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014741:Video Recording