The SHARE Approach

Shared decision making works, but not all clinicians have experience and training to do it well. Can a modernized curriculum make it practical for routine care? To find all of the training materials, visit The SHARE Approach website.

What do we know already?

Shared decision making (SDM) improves patient engagement, aligns healthcare decisions with patients' values and preferences, and can lead to better health outcomes and satisfaction. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality developed the SHARE Approach to give clinicians a structured, evidence-based framework for practicing SDM. Widespread implementation, however, has been limited by time constraints, competing clinical demands, and the need for more flexible training methods.

What have we found so far?

The SHARE Approach evaluation project revised and modernized AHRQ's SDM training curriculum to make it more practical and scalable for routine clinical practice. The updated program incorporates brief online learning modules, facilitated discussions, and practical communication tools that fit more easily into clinical workflows.

Our findings showed that the revised curriculum was feasible to implement, acceptable to clinicians, and increased their confidence engaging patients in SDM. Participants reported that the training was relevant to everyday practice, and appreciated its flexibility and practical resources.

What’s next?

The findings support broader dissemination of the revised SHARE Approach training across healthcare settings. Future efforts will focus on expanding implementation, integrating the training into organizational workflows, and continuing to evaluate its impact on clinician behavior and patient engagement.

Funding

Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2019–2023).

Further Reading

In the media

Creating a More User-Friendly Shared Decision-Making Tool for Physicians — CU Anschutz Today

Publications

Fernald D, Matlock DD, Knoepke C, Wearner R, Gottsman A, Dickinson WP, Dickinson LM, McNulty M, Fournier A, Gerstein M, Gritz M, Scherer LD. (2026). Revising a training curriculum on shared decision making for application in routine clinical care: a report on the SHARE Approach. Medical Decision Making: Policy & Practice.

Scherer LD, Matlock DD, Knoepke C, Wearner R, Gottsman A, Fernald D, Dickinson WP, Dickinson LM, McNulty M, Fournier A, Gerstein M, Gritz M. (2025). Effectiveness of the SHARE Approach for improving clinician shared decision making skills: a trial in 12 practices located in Colorado, USA. Journal of General Internal Medicine.