Health literacy and shared decision-making in predictive medicine — professionals’ perceptions and communication strategies

Aim - This contribution empirically analyses and theoretically reflects health literacy (HL) and shared decision-making (SDM) in the context of predictive medicine, taking in the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The aim is to identify ways to promote HL of persons dealing with disease risk, and to support SDM in predictive consultations. Methods - The perspectives of HCPs consulting patients at early prediction centers and advising them with respect to preventive therapies or further diagnostic procedures were examined using semi-structured, qualitative expert interviews and a complementary survey. Results - The data reveal resources and challenges regarding risk communication and the empowerment of patients for informed and health-literate decisions upon their disease risk. They also show potentially useful communication strategies and prerequisites for demand-oriented decision-making in the predictive setting. Furthermore, the findings highlight that risk communication and patient information in predictive medicine are considered to be underrepresented in medical education and training. Therefore, this contribution provides implications and suggestions for educational concepts and practical tools for medical education and predictive practice. Conclusion - We emphasize communication and interaction between HCPs and patients as crucial for health-literate decision-making in the specific context of predictive medicine. This study’s results indicate relevant aspects of social and communicational skills that need to be considered in consultation guides and integrated into medical education and training, to provide individual-sensitive consultation and HL promotion for people at risk.