Shared decision making: How can it be helpful in reducing medical overuse due to medical misinformation mess?

[Extract]
Limitation in health systems resources is a key concern of health policymakers who aim to increase the quality of health care services. There are many factors that increase cost and decrease quality of health systems, but among the most challenging are overuse and the related problem of overdiagnosis. Overuse, which is one of the growing issues in all health systems around the world, “does not seem to increase the quality and quantity of life, imposes excessive costs on the patient and the healthcare system, has low quality and if the patient has enough information, he or she will not ask for it.” Importantly, one of the key domains of this definition is the awareness of the patient and whether they have sufficient and valid information about the services they receive. The assumption is that if patients learn more about the costs, harms, and benefits of the services they are recommended, they can make a better decision, which will be less costly, less harmful, and more beneficial.