TY - JOUR T1 - Patient comment: shared decision making JF - Future Hospital Journal JO - Future Hosp J SP - 121 LP - 122 DO - 10.7861/futurehosp.3-2-121 VL - 3 IS - 2 AU - Francesca Creighton Griffiths Y1 - 2016/06/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/3/2/121.abstract N2 - The notions of shared decision making (SDM) and support for self-management (SSM) seem completely right and unquestionable from a patient perspective. It is hard to argue against people having as much involvement as possible in making decisions about their own health, and in managing their own health. In an ideal world wouldn’t we all wish to understand what is happening and what the options are when we are unwell?On the grounds of ethical and moral clinical practice, as well as effectiveness, SDM and SSM make perfect sense. Logically, greater patient involvement, with patient and clinician working in partnership, would lead to greater mutual understanding, fewer misunderstandings and an inclination to work together to manage illness, promote health and achieve an optimum quality of life for the patient.Many of us will know from our own life experiences and those of our loved ones that the extent to which patients are involved in decisions about their health seems to vary along a continuum between two extremes. I was fortunate to have been witness to … ER -