Patient preferences and values are necessary for making the absolute best-informed decision about their health care on top of evidence-base decisions because it encourages “higher rates of patient adherence… [and it supports] patient-provider discussion about treatment options and associated outcomes, and improving patient satisfaction with information, involvement in decisions, decisions, and subsequent self-care” (Blackwood, 2020). Providers should have a basic knowledge about their patient population and their general ideals when providing care so that they know not to offend patients in the process. For example, there are many different cultures that have different preferences such as not accepting blood transfusions or protecting modesty during physical exams. Providers will also need to know if their patients require interpreters or a translated version of their provided education. Providers should want to have knowledge of patient preferences to have a better provider-patient relationship. Patients who are comfortable with the care that their providers give them are oftentimes more compliant with their treatment plans because they feel that they part-took in the creation of the plan. Additionally, when providers are conscious of the needs of each patient, they can make more informed decisions about what patients will respond best to and have a better idea of what approach will be best for each patient. Gaining mutual trust from providers and patients aids in achieving a higher satisfaction from the patient and a more effective provider who will likely be recommended to other patients.
In order to have patient preferences align with organizational objectives and evidence-based medicine, it is important to have some type of patient involvement in guideline making. “There is currently little evidence-based guidance on how best to address patient preferences in guidelines” (Blackwood, 2020). Researching this topic might spark interest in many organizations to look at creating guidelines that focus some areas on establishing patient goals in treatment. Organizational support is needed in order to create guidelines for providers that will aid them in establishing patient preferences. Some ways in which organizations can support patient preferences are by having an “organizational strategic plan [that] includes consideration of patient preferences in guideline development, [creating] a policy specific to patient engagement, [having a] patient advisory committee (separate from guideline development panel) that informs patient preferences activities, and [providing] operational funding dedicated to patient preferences” (Blackwood, 2020).
Jayden Blackwood, Melissa J. Armstrong, Corinna Schaefer, Ian D. Graham, Loes Knaapen, Sharon E. Straus, Robin Urquhart, & Anna R. Gagliardi. (2020). How do guideline developers identify, incorporate and report patient preferences? An international cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1–10. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05343-x
