ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to consider goal setting in the context of the growing literature on shared decision making and patient decision aids. Goal setting in rehabilitation will be compared with shared decision making in the management of chronic disease. The nature of preference-sensitive decisions and the importance of understanding an individual’s personal values, beliefs and preferences in making such decisions will be discussed. The barriers to shared decision making and goal setting will be considered, with attention paid to situations often considered as difficult, including how to involve patients with cognitive impairment and sudden disabling diagnoses. The criteria for judging shared decisionmaking processes will be described, with each of the steps in supporting shared decision making explained.
