Entscheidungsfindung und Entscheidungsunterstützung in der Herzmedizin

Shared decision making (SDM) is a structured process that integrates medical expertise and clinical indications with patients’ values, preferences and life goals. It is grounded in legal requirements for informed consent, ethical concepts of patient autonomy and a growing body of empirical evidence. This interdisciplinary consensus statement from German cardiovascular societies outlines the legal, ethical and practical foundations of SDM in cardiovascular medicine. Particular attention is given to preference clarification, informed consent and the challenges of implementing SDM in routine care. Decision aids are highlighted as standardized tools that support patient participation and facilitate communication about benefits, risks and treatment alternatives. International studies demonstrate that decision aids can improve patient knowledge, reduce decisional conflict and enhance active involvement in decision making. The paper presents the three-talks model as a practical framework for integrating decision aids into clinical pathways and provides recommendations for the quality-assured development and implementation in cardiovascular care. The participating societies regard SDM as a key component of high-quality, patient-centered cardiovascular medicine.