title: The role of medical schools in promoting social accountability through shared decision-making.
abstract: Reducing health inequalities and enhancing the social accountability of medical students and physicians is a challenge acknowledged by medical educators and professionals. It is usually perceived as a macro-level, community type intervention. This commentary suggests a different approach, an interpersonal way to decrease inequality and asymmetry in power relations to improve medical decisions and care. Shared decision-making practices are suggested as a model that requires building partnership, bi-directional sharing of information, empowering patients and enhancing tailored health care decisions. To increase the implementation of shared decision-making practices in Israel, an official policy needs to be established to encourage the investment of resources towards helping educators, researchers, and practitioners translate and integrate it into daily practice. Special efforts should be invested in medical education initiatives to train medical students and residents in SDM practices.
authors: Department of Medical Education, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors: Orit
authors: O
authors: Karnieli-Miller
authors: Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Yaara
authors: Y
authors: Zisman-Ilani
authors: Department of Medical Education, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors: Dafna
authors: D
authors: Meitar
authors: Dean, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors: Yoseph
authors: Y
authors: Mekori