Shared Decision Making

Would you have a hair cut without first discussing with your hairdresser what you want? Would you buy a car without first discussing what you’re looking for? Of course not!

While clinicians are experts at explaining the risk and benefits of different treatment option, you are the expert of what is most important to you.

This is called shared decision making.

RESOURCES

Making the Most of Your Medical Appointments

When you come to Lift, you will be seen by clinicians who are trained to provide services to support you through your cancer diagnosis and treatment. In the lead up to your appointments, you may think of questions you’d like to ask. Because you are probably juggling many different medical appointments, it can be easy to forget what you’d like to discuss at your visits.

The Question Builder

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality and Health Care, in collaboration with Health Direct Australia have created a tool that will help you to make the most out of your medical appointments.

This is a tool you can use for any medical appointment you attend and is a wonderful way to ensure you are kept at the centre of your care.

If you would like more information about using the Question Builder, you can visit www.healthdirect.gov.au/question-builder 

Ask | Share | Know

If you would like more information about shared decision making, you might like to look at the Ask Share Know website. This website has resources about the 3 questions you should consider asking your health professional:

1. What are my options?

This question will encourage your doctor or nurse or other health professional to list the options you have upfront, so you have an idea of how many options there are.

There will always be at least 2 options, as one is always “wait and watch”.

2. What are the possible benefits and harms of those options?

This question asks your doctor to give you information about the different outcomes of the options you are considering.

If for example taking a course of antibiotics is an option, the benefits may include a quicker recovery, while the harms may include diarrhoea or nausea and vomiting.

3. How likely are each of those benefits and harms to happen to me?

This question asks for even more detail about the benefits and harms you now know about. What is the probability that you will experience the benefit or harms of the options?

The answer to this question will take into account things like your medical history, individual risk factors and lifestyle preferences.

http://www.askshareknow.com.au/ask-questions/ask/