AAFM Boards Dermatology Practice Test

The most useful tool for implementing shared decision-making in clinical practice is the concept of number needed to treat (NNT). NNT provides a quantifiable measure that indicates how many patients need to receive a specific treatment for one person to benefit. This information directly informs clinicians and patients about the effectiveness of treatments and helps in weighing the potential benefits against risks and side effects.

In shared decision-making, it’s essential for patients to understand not just the recommended treatment options but also the likelihood of achieving a positive outcome from those options. By presenting the NNT, clinicians can facilitate discussions about treatment effectiveness in a more tangible way, allowing patients to make informed choices that align with their values and preferences.

While clinical guidelines, cost-effectiveness analysis, and patient history all play important roles in clinical decision-making, they do not convey the probability of benefit in the same direct manner as the number needed to treat. Clinical guidelines provide broad recommendations based on evidence but may lack context for individual patient circumstances; cost-effectiveness analysis evaluates the economic implications of treatments rather than the direct clinical outcomes; and patient history is crucial for the understanding of the individual’s specific case but does not provide a definitive measure of treatment efficacy. The NNT effectively bridges the gap between clinical evidence and patient involvement