#158: Shared Decision Making in Multiple Sclerosis: How Patients and Doctors Make Better Decisions Together (PD Dr. Ulrich Rüffer)

This episode explores shared decision making in multiple sclerosis (MS) and why it is essential for patient-centered care.

👉 Note: This is the English version of an interview originally recorded in German in November 2024.
You can find the original German episode here:
🔗 https://ms-perspektive.de/278-uli-rueffer/

You can also read the full English article with all insights and resources on my website:
🔗 https://ms-perspektive.de/en/158-rueffer

Together with Dr. Jens Ulrich Rüffer, we discuss how patients and doctors can make treatment decisions together on equal footing—and why this leads to better outcomes, higher satisfaction, and more sustainable care.

🧠 What you will learn in this episode

• What shared decision making (SDM) really means in MS care

• Why patient empowerment improves treatment outcomes

• How doctors and patients can communicate more effectively

• Which tools (e.g. decision aids, coaching) support SDM

• Why SDM is still not widely implemented

• How artificial intelligence may support future decision-making

• Whether patients can (and should) delegate decisions

🌍 Resources & Further Reading

• Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) – global resources on MS, patient empowerment, and access to care

• European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) – European initiatives on patient rights and healthcare quality

• International Shared Decision Making Society – research and best practices on shared decision making

🔎 About this episode

Shared decision making in multiple sclerosis is a key element of modern, patient-centered healthcare. When patients are fully informed and actively involved, they can choose treatments that truly fit their lives.

This episode highlights how collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals improves adherence, outcomes, and quality of life—and why this approach is the future of MS care.

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See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,
Nele

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