RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Physicians in health care management: 8. The patient-physician partnership: decision making, problem solving and the desire to participate JF Canadian Medical Association Journal JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP 423 OP 427 VO 151 IS 4 A1 R. B. Deber YR 1994 UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/151/4/423.abstract AB How reasonable are expectations that patients will participate in care decisions? The previous article in this series reviewed models of the patient-physician relationship and views on the extent to which patients want to be informed; it also described one information tool--the interactive videodisc. This article reviews literature on the extent to which patients wish to be involved in making decisions about their care. Neither "sensitive paternalism" nor "informed consent" appears to be ideal. The author suggests a distinction between two elements of choice: problem solving and decision making. This distinction helps in identifying appropriate roles for patient and provider, thereby leading to genuine shared decision making.