From dialogue to decision: exploring medical options, benefits and harms, and patient preferences in different clinical contexts

This dissertation explores how to enhance shared decision-making (SDM) in healthcare by examining the communication of medical options, their potential benefits and harms (option talk and risk communication), and patient preference elicitation. Communicating these aspects can be abstract and complex, posing challenges in clinical practice. Previous research highlights healthcare professionals' need for clear communication strategies and supportive tools, particularly for engaging patients with limited health literacy in SDM.
The dissertation provides insights and recommendations for effective risk communication strategies and examines how clinical contexts influence this process. It incorporates perspectives from key stakeholders, including clinicians, experts, and patients with limited health literacy. Additionally, it evaluates Patient Decision Aids, tools designed to support option talk and risk communication. This dissertation also explored the use of the Outcome Prioritization Tool (OP) to support the often-abstract task of eliciting patient preferences in practice.