Table 1.

When SDM should be considered

CARE OPTIONS^*	CATEGORIES	EXAMPLES
There are at least 2 medically valid options with a balance between benefits and harms	If the recommendation is in favour of action, SDM should precede ordering the test or treatment	Mammography in women 50–74 y¹⁰ Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in men 65–80 y¹¹ Statins for primary prevention of CVD in people at moderate risk
Many weak or conditional recommendations¹²	If the recommendation is against action, SDM is useful when the patient wants to know more about the option	PSA screening in men 55–70 y¹³ Mammography in women in their 40s¹⁰
In specific circumstances even if the balance between benefit and harms is usually not in equipoise	The balance between benefits and risks is different for a particular patient	A potentially lifesaving surgery in a patient with multiple comorbidities in whom potential harms are important
Some strong recommendations in favour of action¹²	A patient who expresses the desire to discuss a specific recommendation	Colon cancer screening in adults 60–74 y¹⁴

CVD—cardiovascular disease, PSA—prostate-specific antigen, SDM—shared decision making.
↵* When there is a decision to be made and the patient can collaborate.