Quality Statement 3: Shared Decision-Making - Health Quality Ontario (HQO)

Resources Quality Statements Advisory Committee About

3

Shared Decision-Making

People with major depression jointly decide with clinicians on the most appropriate treatment for them, based on their values, preferences, and goals for recovery. They have access to a decision aid in a language they understand that provides information on the expected treatment effects, side effects, risks, costs, and anticipated waiting times for treatment options.

Background

People with major depression, their families (if desired), and their health care providers should make health care decisions together. Treatments are more likely to be effective when they align with people’s preferences. People should be informed of the effects, side effects, risks, and costs of all potential treatment options for their condition. A patient decision aid can help provide all this information in an accessible way.

What This Quality Statement Means

For Patients

You should be given tools and information that help you make treatment decisions with your health care professional.

For Clinicians

Involve people with major depression in all decisions regarding their treatment. Explain the effects, side effects, risks, and costs of all potential treatment options for their condition in an understandable way and discuss how these may align with their preferences, values, and goals for recovery. Offer people with major depression and, if desired, their family or caregivers a decision aid that provides this information in a language they understand.

For Health Services

Ensure the availability of up-to-date, evidence-based decision aids for people with major depression, in a language they understand. Provide an environment that allows for conversations with patients, families, and caregivers about various treatment options.

Quality Indicators

Process Indicator

Percentage of people with major depression who report making joint decisions about their care with their health care providers

Denominator: total number of people with major depression who are receiving care from a health care provider
Numerator: number of people in the denominator who report making joint decisions about their care with their health care providers
Data source: local data collection

Percentage of people with major depression who have access to a decision aid while making decisions about their care with their health care providers

Denominator: total number of people with major depression who are receiving care from a health care provider
Numerator: number of people in the denominator who have access to a decision aid while making decisions about their care with their health care providers
Data source: local data collection

Definitions Used Within This Quality Statement

Patient decision aid

This is a tool that helps patients make decisions about their care by providing evidence-based information on the treatment options available and their effects, side effects, risks, and costs. Decision aids also help people consider their values and preferences and how these relate to their treatment choice. It is vital that decision aids be available in languages that people understand.

Evidence to Improve Care