shared decision making
Also written as: SDM — Shared Decision Making
Collaborative process between healthcare providers and patients to make screening decisions based on individual risk factors, values, and preferences.
Full Definition
Shared decision making in cancer screening represents a patient-centered approach that involves healthcare providers and patients working together to make informed screening decisions. This process includes discussing individual risk factors, potential benefits and harms of screening, patient values and preferences, and available screening options. SDM is particularly important for screening decisions where evidence shows marginal net benefit or where patient preferences significantly impact the appropriateness of screening. The process requires adequate time, educational materials, and provider training to effectively implement in clinical practice.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound adjective; capitalize when referring to the formal process.
In Context
- "Lung cancer screening decisions require shared decision making to weigh individual risk-benefit ratios." — Clinical guideline
- "The clinic implemented decision aids to support shared decision making for prostate cancer screening." — Quality improvement report