Shared decision-making
Shared decision-making is a method where you and healthcare professionals work together to determine which examination and treatment methods are best for you.
As a patient, you have the right to participate in decisions about assessment, treatment and follow-up. Shared decision-making is relevant when there are several medically sound alternatives, and the best alternative depends on what matters to you.
Shared decision-making is intended to ensure that you receive sufficient, accurate and relevant information about what to expect from the alternatives. In addition to choosing between different available treatments, you can also decide to postpone, wait and see, or choose not to have treatment. You can also choose to leave the decision to healthcare professionals.
Which alternative is best depends on how the benefits and drawbacks of the different options will affect your life. For example, you may consider how much a symptom can be relieved against the risk of side effects. Your values and wishes are therefore an important part of the decision. Healthcare professionals will support you throughout this process.
For many people, it can also be helpful to talk to family or other close contacts about which option would be best.
Questions you can ask your healthcare provider
- What options do I have?
- What are the possible benefits and drawbacks of these options?
- How likely are the benefits and drawbacks to apply to me?
What can you do yourself?
- Ask yourself how the benefits and drawbacks will affect your life
- Think about what matters most to you
- Tell healthcare professionals what you have been thinking
Shared decision-making tools
Sometimes shared decision-making tools can help with the decision-making process. The tools provide relevant and reliable information about your health issue and the options available. They can be used before, during and after a consultation.
On Helsenorge, you can find shared decision-making tools for selected issues. More tools are being developed. Even if you cannot find tools relevant to you, you and your healthcare provider can still engage in shared decision-making. You can do this by discussing the different options and determining what is best for you and your life.
Decision guide
While shared decision-making tools are developed for a specific issue, a research-based decision guide developed in Helse Sør-Øst can be used for all health and social care decisions where there are several options.
The decision guide is a tool designed to support dialogue between patients/relatives and healthcare professionals. Together, they fill in:
- what decision needs to be made
- what options are available
- the benefits, drawbacks and risks of the options
Healthcare professionals also help the patient weigh up the options.
The decision guide can be completed digitally, saved or printed (PDF)
It is also available in a version adapted for two people, for example a patient and a relative.
Read more about shared decision-making
On Helsenorge, you can read more about shared decision-making and watch a short animated film about the method. You can also find shared decision-making tools for various health issues.
Watch an animated film and read more about shared decision-making on Helsenorge