Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative process that empowers patients and providers to make healthcare decisions together, grounded in clinical evidence and aligned with patient preferences. The SHARE Approach—a five-step model developed to guide SDM in clinical practice—encourages providers to: Seek the patient’s participation, Help them explore options, Assess their values, Reach a decision together, and Evaluate the decision over time. This approach fosters trust, improves communication, and enhances patient satisfaction especially among individuals managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
While the featured SDM tool on this page emphasizes diabetes care, its structure and principles are broadly applicable to other chronic conditions, including hypertension. For example, the tool can be used to support conversations around medication adherence, lifestyle changes (such as sodium reduction or exercise), and self-monitoring strategies for hypertension. For diabetes, SDM can help patients weigh options for glucose control, nutrition, and medication management.
Downloadable Files
Shared Decision Making Guide
Shared decision making (SDM) is the process by which the patient and family, along with the care provider, reach an agreement about a plan of care and treatment. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends using shared decision making to improve patient health outcomes and enhance health-related quality of life. Learn more about benefits, steps for patient engagement, implementation strategies, and potential barriers of SDM. Reviewed November 2023.