Shared Decision Making during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Anja K. Köther, Katharina U. Siebenhaar and Georg W. Alpers
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Anja K. Köther: Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Katharina U. Siebenhaar: Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Georg W. Alpers: Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Medical Decision Making, 2021, vol. 41, issue 4, 430-438

Abstract: Objective The COVID-19 pandemic pushed some of the most well-developed health care systems to their limits. In many cases, this has challenged patient-centered care. We set out to examine individuals’ attitudes toward shared decision making (SDM) and to identify predictors of participation preference during the pandemic. Methods We conducted an online survey with a large convenience sample ( N = 1061). Our main measures of interest were participants’ generic and COVID-19–related participation preference as well as their acceptance and distress regarding a triage vignette. We also assessed anxiety, e-health literacy, and aspects of participants’ health. We conducted group comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses on participation preference as well as triage acceptance. Results In generic decision making, most participants expressed a strong need for information and a moderate participation preference. In the hypothetical case of COVID-19 infection, most preferred physician-led decisions. Generic participation preference was the strongest predictor of COVID-19–related participation preference, followed by age, education, and anxiety. Furthermore, both higher generic and COVID-19–related participation preferences predicted lower triage acceptance. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate potential health care recipients’ attitudes toward SDM during a severe health care crisis and emphasize that participation preference varies according to the context.

Keywords: anxiety; COVID-19; health care; shared decision making; triage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:41:y:2021:i:4:p:430-438

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X211004147

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