DIPEx supports joint decision making

An online tool has been developed that focuses on the relationship between patients and doctors when making decisions.

The DIPEx charity has published ‘Improving Health Care’ on its Healthtalkonline site, in response to an Oxford University study into the degree to which patients are involved in decisions about their healthcare.

Research director Sue Ziebland said the study showed people do not always feel they can tell their doctors how much they want to be involved in making decisions.

“We were struck that there is no simple pattern of preferences that people facing serious, life threatening or long term illnesses describe consultations across the spectrum.”

The new page includes information on what shared decision-making is, the different types of decision-making relationships between doctors, and patients and what can potentially go wrong if decisions are not made jointly.

The original research was funded through the Department of Health’s Public and Patient Experience and Engagement Team, and the online tool has been endorsed by health secretary Andrew Lansley, who wants to create a ‘no decision about me, without me’ NHS.

“It will provide many audiences, not least patients and their families with genuine personal insight into what shared decision-making is and how it can work for them,” he said in a statement.

The tool is also intended to teach doctors and other health professionals more about how patients want to be involved in decisions.