Shared decision making process in primary care: qualitative analysis of clinician interviews from four rural practice sites in Oregon

Shared decision making (SDM) helps align medical choices with patient values, supported by evidence-based decision aids (DAs). This study examined clinician perspectives on SDM and DA implementation in four rural Oregon primary care practices through qualitative analysis of nine focus group interviews. Clinicians reported practicing SDM informally but identified barriers such as limited training, lack of reimbursement, and challenges integrating DAs into electronic health records. Suggested solutions included formal training and financial incentives. Findings contribute to understanding how SDM can be effectively adopted in rural settings and integrated into routine primary care.