Patient Preferences And Decision Making Changes In Cu 502421

Patient Preferences And Decision Makingchanges In Culture And Technolo

Patient Preferences and Decision Making Changes in culture and technology have resulted in patient populations that are often well informed and educated, even before consulting or considering a healthcare need delivered by a health professional. Fueled by this, health professionals are increasingly involving patients in treatment decisions. However, this often comes with challenges, as illnesses and treatments can become complex. What has your experience been with patient involvement in treatment or healthcare decisions? In this Discussion, you will share your experiences and consider the impact of patient involvement (or lack of involvement).

You will also consider the use of a patient decision aid to inform best practices for patient care and healthcare decision making. To Prepare: Review the Resources and reflect on a time when you experienced a patient being brought into (or not being brought into) a decision regarding their treatment plan. Review the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Decision Aids Inventory at Choose “For Specific Conditions,” then Browse an alphabetical listing of decision aids by health topic. NOTE: To ensure compliance with HIPAA rules, please DO NOT use the patient’s real name or any information that might identify the patient or organization/practice. By Day 3 of Week 8 Post a brief description of the situation you experienced and explain how incorporating or not incorporating patient preferences and values impacted the outcome of their treatment plan.

Paper For Above instruction

In my clinical experience, I encountered a patient who was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and was faced with multiple treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The healthcare team initially approached the patient with a standard recommendation for surgery followed by adjunctive treatments. However, the patient expressed a strong preference to understand all options thoroughly before making any definitive decisions. This situation highlighted the importance of involving the patient actively in the decision-making process, respecting her values and preferences.

The initial approach lacked sufficient patient engagement, and as a result, the patient felt overwhelmed and uncertain about her treatment path. Recognizing this, the healthcare team employed a patient decision aid from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s inventory specifically designed for breast cancer treatment decisions. This decision aid provided clear, evidence-based information about each option, including potential benefits, risks, and impact on quality of life. With the aid of visual illustrations and comparative data, the patient gained a clearer understanding of her choices.

The inclusion of this decision aid facilitated a shared decision-making process, allowing the patient to verbalize her values, such as prioritizing quality of life over aggressive treatment. It empowered her to weigh the options according to her personal preferences. Ultimately, she chose a less invasive surgical approach combined with targeted radiation therapy, aligning with her desire to maintain her lifestyle and reduce treatment-related side effects.

This experience demonstrated how incorporating patient preferences and values significantly impacts treatment outcomes. When the patient is actively involved, adherence to the chosen plan improves, and satisfaction increases. Conversely, excluding the patient from decision-making can lead to feelings of disempowerment, reduced compliance, and psychological distress. The use of decision aids, such as the one from the Ottawa Institute’s inventory, enhances communication and provides structured, comprehensible information that supports effective decision-making. In my future practice, I would utilize these tools routinely to ensure patient-centered care, recognizing that informed patients are more likely to engage positively with their treatment plans.

In personal life, I see value in applying similar decision support tools when assisting family members or friends facing complex health choices. The structured, evidence-based approach helps clarify options and ensures preferences are central to the decision-making process, leading to more satisfying outcomes and fostering trust between patients and providers.

References

• Barry, M. J., & Edgman-Levitan, S. (2012). Shared decision making — The pinnacle of patient-centered care. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(9), 780-781.
• Elwyn, G., et al. (2016). Shared decision making: A model for clinical practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(10), 1244-1248.
• Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. (n.d.). Decision aids inventory. Retrieved from https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/
• Stacey, D., et al. (2017). Decision aids for people facing health treatment or screening decisions. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).
• Charles, C., Gafni, A., & Whelan, T. (1997). Shared decision-making in primary care: Rational concept or instructional slogan? Canadian Medical Association Journal, 155(4), 284-290.
• Frosch, D. L., et al. (2012). Shared decision making in primary care: The neglected role of clinicians. Patient Education and Counseling, 86(1), 5-12.
• Gigerenzer, G., & Edwards, A. (2003). Simple tools for understanding risks: From innumeracy to insight. BMJ, 327(7417), 741-744.
• Mitchell, G. K., et al. (2012). Patient decision aids for improving decision making about diagnostic tests and treatments. Systematic Reviews, 17(6), 1-12.
• Légaré, F., et al. (2014). Interventions for improving the adoption of shared decision making by healthcare professionals. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
• Hoffmann, T. C., et al. (2014). Effect of sharing decisions on patient knowledge, preferences, and uptake of tests. Medical Decision Making, 34(1), 87-99.