Shared decision making (SDM) is when you work with your health care provider to decide the best way to test for and treat your health problems. There are more than one, and sometimes many, test and treatment options for most health conditions. So, your condition may be managed in more than one way.
Your provider will go over all your options with you. The two of you will make a decision based on your provider's expertise and your values and goals.
Shared decision making helps you and your provider choose a test or treatment you both support.
When to Use Shared Decision Making
Shared decision making is often used when you and your provider need to make big decisions such as:
- Taking a medicine for the rest of your life
- Having major surgery
- Getting genetic or cancer screening tests
Talking together about your options helps your provider know how you feel and what you value.
How Shared Decision Making Works
When facing a decision, your provider will fully explain your options. You can bring friends or family members to your visits to help with the shared decision making process.
You will learn about the risks and benefits of each option. These may include:
- Medicines and possible side effects
- Tests and any follow-up tests or procedures you may need
- Treatments and possible results
Also, your provider may explain why some tests or treatments are not recommended for you.
To help you decide, you may want to ask your provider about using decision aids. These are tools that have specific objective information and can help you understand your goals and how they relate to treatment. They can also help you know what questions to ask.
Once you know your options and the risks and benefits, you and your provider may decide to go ahead with a test or treatment, or wait. Together, you and your provider can make better health care decisions.
How to Find a Provider You Can Talk With
When facing a big decision, you want to choose a provider who is good at communicating with you. You should also learn what you can do to get the most out of talking with your provider. This will help you and your provider communicate openly and build a relationship of trust.
Alternative Names
Patient-centered care; SDM
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. The SHARE approach. www.ahrq.gov/sdm/share-approach/index.html. Updated February 2026. Accessed August 24, 2026.
Payne TH. Statistical interpretation of data for clinical decision making. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 8.
Review Date 7/22/2026
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.