Table 6 Participant perceptions of the pros and cons of adopting shared decision-making (SDM) as assessed using open-ended questions after participants’ exposure to the e-learning activity

Pros of SDM

SDM allows patient-centered care by adapting practice to each patient

SDM may increase patient adherence to treatment

SDM increases patient’s perceived control over their health and satisfaction with care

SDM leads to clinician and patient satisfaction about the decision

SDM respects ethics

SDM may be challenging but pays in the long run

SDM decreases clinician’s perceived decisional burden

SDM structures the discussion with the patient

SDM improves patient’s perception of being understood

SDM allows clinician to provide patient support with a human approach

SDM helps establish trust

SDM enhances patient comfort with the decision; limits regret

SDM allows for improved risk perception by patients

SDM does not increase duration of the clinical consultation

SDM is useful in uncertain situations

Cons of SDM

SDM takes time and is therefore not appropriate in emergency situations

SDM may depend on patient’s personality or health condition

Applying SDM is challenging without training or tools that provide access to probabilities

Patient’s preference could contradict the clinician’s recommendations

SDM is not appropriate when risk is low

SDM is incompatible with phone follow-ups

SDM cannot be applied to every question the patients have, since they are too numerous

Patients might ask clinicians to make the decision even if SDM principles are applied

Patient preferences could contradict public health recommendations

Applying SDM can be difficult for decisions on goals of care

Applying SDM may be challenging when there are several equivalent options

SDM could lead to multiple medical consultations

SDM is not applicable in cases of immediate treatment