Eliciting patient treatment preferences: A strategy to integrate evidence-based and patient-centered care

Background: The integrated patient-centered evidence-based approach to care is integral to guide practice and enhance the quality of care. In this paper, a strategy to operationalize the integrated approach is described. Description of strategy: The strategy flows from the processes used to synthesize the best available evidence for interventions that address a clinical problem, and to elicit patient preferences for treatment options, which is an important step in patient-centered care. The strategy consists of three phases: (1) synthesis of evidence about the effectiveness and relevance of interventions derived from research and practice; (2) generation of written material describing the nature, dose, effectiveness, and risks associated with the evidence-based interventions; and (3) using the written descriptions to elicit patient preferences. Examples from an ongoing study are presented to illustrate the implementation of the strategy within the context of research. Implications: Nurses are invited to apply the strategy in practice and to evaluate its feasibility and utility in enhancing the quality of care.