Shared decision-making (SDM) is a patient-centered healthcare model fostering collaboration between patients, caregivers, and providers. For patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), SDM helps navigate complex treatment decisions while aligning care with individual preferences and values. This is particularly critical in gMG due to its diverse symptom burden and evolving therapeutic landscape.
Studies show that SDM improves decision quality, enhances patient autonomy, and reduces decisional regret. Tools like the SHARE approach guide providers through key steps: engaging patients, comparing treatment options, assessing values, making joint decisions, and evaluating outcomes.
Despite its benefits, barriers such as time constraints, inadequate patient education, and limited provider training often hinder SDM adoption. To overcome these challenges, interventions like decision aids and patient activation strategies have shown promise. While no single approach has been proven superior, training programs like the SDM-N scale can enhance provider competency and improve care quality.
In gMG management, SDM also promotes effective care coordination by facilitating communication between specialists, such as neurologists, and generalists, including PCPs, NPs, and PAs. This collaboration ensures that all members of the care team are aligned on treatment goals, enabling comprehensive, patient-centered care. By embracing SDM, providers can empower gMG patients to actively participate in their treatment, fostering better outcomes and stronger patient-provider relationships.
How do you integrate SDM into your gMG treatment planning? What strategies or frameworks have you found most effective in supporting patient involvement?
Share
-
Michelle SantiagoApril 12, 2025I try to integrate shared decision making in all of my patient appointments. I probably incorporate it most of all when discussing medication choices. I will typically go over multiple options for medication choices with the patient in great detail. We will go over the pros and cons of each and discuss which would be best in a collaborative way. I find this gets the patients buy in and typically promotes compliance with the patient. -
Rikki Racela, Bergen NeurologyApril 10, 2025I integreate SDM in gMG treatment planning by really educating my patients about the disease and how treatments work. Some strateggies that I have found effective is not using jargon when talking about treatments and their potential side effects.
-
Julie Lockwood, CHANDLER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTERApril 09, 2025Sometimes patients also need psychiatrists or counselors as part of the team as this disease can have emotional implications as well with adjusting to diagnosis and treatments.
-
Indravadan Gatiwala, Neurology center of Lumberton, IncApril 09, 2025Shred decision making approach is helpful in many ways. It helps to make a decision in a different different areas of the medical problems patient may have it. . Patient get help for their the pulmonary symptoms from Pulmonologist, , generalized fatigue, cognitive issues - from neurolologist, , and during the crisis- they can have lot in making appropriate decision for the patient.
-
Liang LuMarch 20, 2025I always take shared decision-making approach in managing patients with gMG, to help them navigate the complex treatment options. I strongly believe this patient-centric strategy can allow them to be more actively engaged in treatment plan, enhance medical compliance and clinical outcomes.
-
William DeMedioFebruary 28, 2025I don’t have many patients with MG. If I did, I would refer major management decisions to the neurologist.
