Shared decision making and student-centered well-being

Shared decision making is a collaborative process in which individuals and professionals work together to make informed choices about healthcare, support services, and well-being strategies. In its traditional clinical sense, shared decision making involves providers and patients discussing treatment options, risks, benefits, and personal preferences before making care decisions together, to ensure decisions align with what matters most to the individual.¹ In higher education, however, the concept extends well beyond clinical care.

Shared decision making in higher ed

Shared decision making recognizes that students are not passive recipients of care or institutional policies; they are active participants in shaping their own health, well-being, and success. Whether a student is deciding how to manage a chronic condition, seek behavioral health support, navigate academic stress, or access well-being resources, the best outcomes often emerge when students feel informed, respected, and empowered in the decision-making process.

Shared decision making is also closely connected to health literacy because students must first understand available information and options to participate meaningfully in decisions about their care. Research has shown that shared decision making can improve communication, engagement, satisfaction, and person-centered outcomes in healthcare settings.² At a time when colleges and universities are working to support diverse student populations with complex needs, shared decision making represents a more student-centered, equitable, and effective approach to health and well-being.

For higher education professionals, shared decision-making matters because it directly influences student engagement, trust, persistence, and overall well-being. Colleges and universities are increasingly recognizing that students are more likely to succeed when they feel seen, heard, and empowered rather than managed through one-size-fits-all systems. When students are invited into decisions about their care, accommodations, support plans, or health and well-being strategies, they are more likely to engage meaningfully with available resources and follow through with the next steps.

Shared decision making can also strengthen institutional trust and improve the effectiveness of campus support systems because students who feel respected and included are more likely to seek help earlier before challenges escalate into crises. Importantly, this approach aligns closely with broader student success and population health goals by promoting autonomy, self-advocacy, resilience, and belonging.²

In many ways, shared decision making is more than a healthcare concept; it is a student-centered strategy that can help institutions build healthier, more connected, and more supportive campus communities.

Moving forward with shared decision making

Shared decision making should be intentionally built into the culture and operations of student health and well-being initiatives.  This begins with a shift in mindset: moving from designing services for students to designing them with students.

To boost shared decision making, professionals and their institutions can:

• Create more opportunities for student input through advisory boards, peer educator programs, surveys, focus groups, and co-design initiatives that elevate student perspectives in meaningful ways.
• Improve communication practices, using plain language, clearly explaining options, discussing tradeoffs openly, and encouraging students to ask questions without fear of judgment.
• Train staff in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed communication, and culturally responsive practices to create environments where students feel respected and empowered.
• Consider how digital tools, care navigation resources, and integrated health literacy efforts can support students in understanding choices and participating confidently in decisions.

Ultimately, shared decision making is not simply a communication technique; it is a philosophy of partnership. In a higher education environment increasingly focused on student-centered care and holistic well-being, empowering students to participate actively in decisions about their health may be one of the most important investments institutions can make.

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References

1. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Shared decision making. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/sdm/share-approach/index.html
2. Elwyn, G., Frosch, D., Thomson, R., Joseph-Williams, N., Lloyd, A., Kinnersley, P., Cording, E., Tomson, D., Dodd, C., Rollnick, S., Edwards, A., & Barry, M. (2012). Shared decision making: A model for clinical practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 27(10), 1361–1367.

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