Shared decision making in contraceptive counseling

Abstract

Background: Shared decision making (SDM) is a potentially valuable but underexplored approach to contraceptive counseling.

Methods: We determined the correlation between patient report of SDM and of whether their provider had a method preference with measures of satisfaction.

Results: Women reporting SDM were more likely to be satisfied with counseling than those reporting a provider-driven decision and were more likely to be satisfied with their method than those reporting a patient-driven decision. Patients who felt that the provider had a method preference were less likely to be satisfied with their method.

Conclusions: SDM in contraceptive counseling is associated with patient satisfaction.

Keywords: Contraception; Counseling; Patient satisfaction; Shared decision making.