Empowering Patients Through Shared Decision Making in Breast Cancer Consultations

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis renders breast cancer consultations pivotal moments in a patient's journey, where decisions about treatment options, including breast reconstruction, can profoundly impact their physical and emotional well-being. Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative approach that involves healthcare professionals and patients working together to make decisions that align with the patient's values, preferences, and goals. SDM can hence lead to: 1. informed choices and patient empowerment; 2. enhanced patient satisfaction. One of the key decisions that patients face is whether or not to undergo breast reconstruction and the varying options available. However, while SDM has proven benefits, there still appears to be a lack of knowledge among some healthcare professionals. Hence, suggestions for mitigation include the employment of patient decision aids and clear communication strategies. Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.