The Rise of Patient Activation and Shared Decision-Making: Redefining the Future of Healthcare
Abstract
Healthcare has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades. Traditionally, healthcare delivery followed a paternalistic model in which doctors made decisions on behalf of patients, assuming
that medical expertise alone was sufficient to determine the best course of treatment. While this approach undoubtedly contributed to many advances in medicine, it often overlooked an equally important
component of healthcare - the patient’s values, preferences, and lived experiences. Today, this scenario is changing rapidly with the emergence of patient activation and shared decision-making [SDM], two
complementary concepts that place patients at the center of healthcare. Together, they represent a shift from “doing things to patients” toward“working with patients” to achieve better health outcomes.
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