On October 12th, 2023, the Global Coalition on Aging convened an expert roundtable that brought together healthcare providers, clinicians, patient representatives, and academics from Japan, the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom to discuss How to Better Support Older Adults and Their Families for Shared Decision-Making About Cancer Care. This discussion was prompted by recent policy changes in Japan that aim to improve cancer care for older adults through the integration of shared decision-making into the care system, but SDM is applicable across health systems worldwide.
SDM is the process by which medical providers, patients, and patients’ families come together to develop mutually agreed upon, informed plans for cancer care. SDM can help healthcare systems better attend to the diverse needs of older cancer patients, leading to improved patient outcomes and healthier aging.
This report shares insights and key takeaways from the expert discussion, as well as recommendations on how to implement and expand upon SDM practices.