Patients Association wins OU grant to advance shared decision-making in healthcare

The Patients Association has been awarded an Open Societal Challenge’s (OSC) grant from The Open University, securing £24,900 to embark on a project aimed at embedding Shared Decision-Making (SDM) into patient care pathways. The project, which focuses initially on cardiology services, is set to transform how patients, carers, and healthcare professionals collaborate on treatment decisions, ensuring that patients’ preferences and concerns are fully integrated into their medical care.

The importance of shared decision-making

Shared Decision-Making is a vital component of patient-centred care. It involves healthcare professionals working collaboratively with patients to make informed decisions about treatment options, discussing the benefits, risks, and possible outcomes. Studies show that when patients are actively involved in decisions about their healthcare, they experience better outcomes, stronger relationships with their care teams, and fewer regrets about the chosen treatments. However, recent surveys have revealed that one in four UK patients feel excluded from the decision-making process regarding their care, which undermines the quality of healthcare delivery.

Tom O’Connor, from the Patients Association, highlighted the organisation’s long-standing advocacy for SDM, “Too often, we hear from patients who feel ignored or dismissed during critical moments in their treatment. SDM is not just a box to tick - it’s about recognising the individual’s right to be heard and to participate in choices that directly affect their health,”.

The project's focus: optimising SDM in cardiology

In partnership with researchers from The Open University, led by Dr Emma Harris and Professor Felicity Astin, the Patients Association will initially focus on patients undergoing planned coronary angioplasty, a common procedure used to treat coronary artery disease. The project aims to evaluate the current patient care pathways in cardiology and redesign them to better facilitate SDM. The goal is to create a model that can be extended to other medical conditions, ensuring that all patients benefit from improved SDM practices.

“Cardiology services often involve complex decision-making processes where patients might not fully understand the risks and benefits of procedures,” said Dr Harris. “Our aim is to break down those barriers, ensuring that patients feel confident and informed about their care.”

The project will run for 12 months, starting in January 2025, and will deliver several key outputs, including a Patient Pathway Toolkit and Patient Decision Aids designed to help NHS Trusts across the UK implement SDM more effectively. These tools will be co-produced with input from patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, ensuring they are practical and accessible to a wide range of individuals.

Pathways to real-world change

A crucial element of the project will be its real-world applicability. Once the Patient Pathway Toolkit and Patient Decision Aids have been developed, they will be tested by NHS Trusts, with a view to rolling them out across the country. The project will also produce a Quality Improvement Toolkit, enabling healthcare providers to measure the effectiveness of SDM initiatives and make adjustments as necessary.

The final stage of the project will involve a nationwide webinar in December 2025, where the findings and resources will be shared with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, NHS Trusts, and patient advocacy groups. By making the results of the research widely available, the Patients Association hopes to inspire broader changes in policy and practice, ultimately leading to a more patient-centred healthcare system.

In a healthcare landscape where patients often feel powerless, this project represents a significant step forward in ensuring that everyone has a voice in decisions about their own care. With the support of the Open Societal Challenges grant, the Patients Association is poised to lead the way in transforming how patient care is delivered in the UK.