Being in a space of sharing decision‐making for dignified mental care

Introduction: Several studies describe barriers and facilitators forimplementing shared decision‐making in mental care. However, a deeper understanding of the meaning of shared decision‐making in this context is lacking. Shared decision‐making is aimed at facilitating patients' active participation in their care by placing them at the centre of care. Too much focus on the patients' autonomy may hinder them getting the help they need. A comprehensive understanding of shared decision‐making is needed for its implementation. Aim/research question: To interpret the meaning of shared decision‐making in mental care as perceived by patients and mental healthcare professionals. The research question was: What is the meaning of shared decision‐making in mental care? Method: A hermeneutic inductive design with a thematic interpretative analysis of data was performed from in‐depth interviews with 16 patients and multistage focus group interviews with eight mental healthcare professionals. Results: The overall theme being in a space of sharing decision‐making for dignified mental care was described by the three themes engaging in a mental room of values and knowledge, relating in a process of awareness and comprehension and responding anchored in acknowledgement. Discussion: Balancing the patients' need for assistance with autonomy, while safe‐ guarding their dignity, is a challenging process requiring mental healthcare professionals to possess professional competence. Implications for practice: Organized professional development of the carers' professional competence is important to facilitate shared decision‐making