Shared Decision Making for Management of Degenerative Spine Diseases

Shared decision making (SDM) is a process of physician providing evidence-based treatment then patient stating personal value and preferences, and finally both parties deciding the treatment plan together after discussion. Patient decision aid (PDA) is a tool designed to assist patients to understand and execute SDM. SDM task force was established with regular meetings since May, 2017 by recruiting quality control center and representatives of patients and families in NTUH Chu-Tung Branch. Orthopaedic surgeon (the first author) was in charge of institutional enforcement, educational training, public awareness activities, and clinical practice of his SDM topics including all the subspecialties in Orthopaedics involving all articulating joints. This manuscript focused on the topic of ＂Treating low back pain, sciatica, neurogenic claudication, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis＂ which gained high satisfaction from patients and families. Such efforts gain publicities and were awarded with ＂2018 Institution Practice Excellency Award＂.