The Malaysian Shared Decision Making Group (The MSDM Group)

The Malaysian Shared Decision Making Group (MSDM) was formed in 2010 with the aim to integrate shared decision making practices in the Malaysian healthcare systems. Its members comprised of individuals with various expertise and backgrounds, who are committed to promote shared decision making through conducting research and organizing workshops and discourses related to the field.

Why shared decision making?

• Non-communicable diseases are escalating in Malaysia at an alarming rate (Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2016). 

• Deciding on a consultation agenda is important as patients often present with multiple agenda which require decision making; many of which are preference sensitive, where several treatment options leading to different outcomes exists. Examples of preference sensitive decisions include insulin intiation in diabetes, anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation, pain relief in osteoarthritis of the knees, and choice of antidepressants in depression.

• In circumstances like these, treatment decisions are difficult to be made as there is a need to balance the harms within and between treatment options.

• SDM allow doctors to provide information to patients based on best available research evidence and clinical experience while patients share their concerns, values and preferences over the treatment options; and both work together to reach decisions that are individualized to the patient's needs.

• Studies have shown that patients in Malaysia want to be involved in decision making for their health (Najwa Aziz, 2016; Ambigapathy et al., 2016).

Objective

• To promote and implement shared decision-making in healthcare practice in Malaysia.