Shared decision-making and satisfaction with care in patients with psoriasis: A population-based study in the United States

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a critical component of the patient-physician relationship. Although SDM has been reported to improve patient knowledge in other fields, it is still relatively unknown in dermatology. Objective: To determine the association between SDM and satisfaction with care among patients with psoriasis. Methods: Cross-sectional study using data from the 2014 to 2017 and 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Results: A weighted total of 3,715,027 patients with psoriasis were identified. The average SDM score was 3.6 (of 4), and the average satisfaction with care score was 8.6 (of 10). Approximately 42% of the cohort reported having a high SDM (score, $3.9). Patients who had high SDM had, on average, 85% higher satisfaction with care (P \ .001) after adjusting for covariates. Limitations: The results of our study should be interpreted within the context of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey database. The ability to measure SDM was limited by the 7 items from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which may not fully capture active participation in shared decision-making. Conclusion: A majority of patients with psoriasis are not participating in highly SDM. It is important to construct a framework for carrying out SDM efficiently to enhance physician-patient communication and improve patient outcomes.

Automated summary

Shared decision-making (SDM) is a crucial aspect of the patient-physician relationship, but its application in dermatology is not well-known. This study found that patients with higher levels of SDM had greater satisfaction with care. These findings highlight the importance of establishing an effective SDM framework to improve outcomes for patients with psoriasis.