What's your strategy for advocating patient preferences in shared decision making?

1 Identify the patient's preferences

Before engaging in SDM, you need to understand what matters most to the patient and what they want to achieve from their treatment. You can use various tools and methods to elicit the patient's preferences, such as questionnaires, decision aids, or motivational interviewing. The key is to ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and reflect back what you hear. You can also help the patient prioritize their preferences and weigh the pros and cons of different options.

2 Communicate the patient's preferences

Once you have identified the patient's preferences, you need to communicate them clearly and respectfully to the health care provider. You can use techniques such as the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) model to structure your message and ensure that you cover the essential information. You can also use phrases such as "The patient prefers...", "The patient values...", or "The patient's goal is..." to emphasize the patient's perspective. You can also ask the health care provider to repeat back what they understood from your message and clarify any misunderstandings.

3 Support the patient's participation

During SDM, you need to support the patient's participation and empowerment. You can do this by encouraging the patient to ask questions, express their concerns, and share their opinions. You can also help the patient understand the information provided by the health care provider, such as the benefits, risks, and uncertainties of different options. You can use plain language, visual aids, or teach-back methods to explain complex concepts and check the patient's comprehension. You can also remind the patient that they have the right to accept or decline any option, and that they can change their mind at any time.

4 Validate the patient's decision

After SDM, you need to validate the patient's decision and reinforce their autonomy. You can do this by acknowledging the patient's efforts, expressing your support, and confirming their satisfaction. You can also help the patient plan for the next steps, such as preparing for the treatment, monitoring the outcomes, or revisiting the decision if needed. You can also follow up with the patient and the health care provider to ensure that the decision is implemented and that the patient's preferences are respected.

5 Evaluate your advocacy

As a patient advocate, you also need to evaluate your own advocacy skills and outcomes. You can do this by seeking feedback from the patient and the health care provider, reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses, and identifying areas for improvement. You can also use tools such as the Patient Advocacy Competency Framework or the Patient Advocacy Evaluation Tool to assess your knowledge, skills, and attitudes in advocating for patient preferences in SDM.

6 Learn from other advocates

Finally, you can learn from other patient advocates who have experience and expertise in advocating for patient preferences in SDM. You can do this by joining professional networks, communities of practice, or online forums where you can share your challenges, successes, and best practices. You can also access educational resources, such as webinars, podcasts, or blogs, that offer insights and tips from other patient advocates. You can also seek mentorship, coaching, or peer support from other patient advocates who can guide you and inspire you.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?