Healthcare systems in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region have traditionally placed the primary responsibility for treatment decisions on doctors, with limited input from patients. In this framework, the patient’s role is largely passive, following medical advice with minimal involvement in the decision-making process.

However, there is a growing recognition of the importance of a patient-centric approach. This shift reflects the realisation that involving patients in their healthcare decisions can lead to better health outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, and substantial cost reduction due to optimised care of the disease.

The Shift Toward Patient-Centric Care

Patient-centric care places the individual at the heart of the healthcare process. This approach prioritises the needs of the patients throughout their treatment journey, building the confidence to make informed health decisions in partnership with their healthcare providers.

The driving force behind this shift is the acknowledgement that healthcare outcomes significantly improve when patients are engaged in their care journey. By being involved, patients pay more attention to their symptoms and get treatments that are better aligned with their personal health goals and needs.

Across APAC, there is a growing interest in patient-centered care, with increased advocacy efforts supported by governments and healthcare organisations. Countries such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea are leading this charge by integrating patient-centric policies into their healthcare frameworks.

The Role of Shared Decision-Making (SDM)

At the heart of patient-centric care is shared decision-making (SDM), where healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients collaborate to make informed healthcare choices. Its success is highly dependent on the effort of both patients and healthcare professionals.

The process involves a two-way dialogue in which patients express their values, lifestyle preferences, and relevant medical experiences. Clinicians, in turn, contribute their clinical expertise such as tools and resources to understand disease, treatment pathways, and care options. This collaboration allows patients to gain a comprehensive understanding of their conditions and treatment options, empowering them to work with their healthcare providers to choose the most appropriate course of action.

The benefits of SDM are significant, enhancing both patient and HCP experiences. It helps patients understand their disease, treatment options, and benefit-risk profiles, while allowing HCPs to assess patient needs more effectively, improve adherence, and reduce appointment times. Increased patient engagement and adherence lead to better treatment outcomes and more efficient resource management, and lower healthcare costs associated with non-compliance. By enabling tailored treatment plans, SDM enables patients and doctors to set and achieve optimal treatment goals and enhance patients’ satisfaction with care. This approach fosters a stronger patient-provider relationship built on trust and mutual understanding, resulting in improved health outcomes.

Challenges in Implementation

While SDM offers clear benefits, implementing it across APAC comes with challenges. The diversity of healthcare systems and cultural differences mean that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach in putting SDM into practice across the regions. Cultural norms, which often place authority in the hands of healthcare providers, can act as a barrier to patient participation. In many APAC countries, patients may feel uncomfortable asking questions to their doctors or expressing preferences, contributing to the traditional, provider-driven approach in disease management.

Time constraints are another hurdle. Physicians often face heavy workloads, leaving little room for the in-depth conversations to understand patients’ needs in full capacity. Lack of training and familiarity with SDM processes among healthcare professionals further complicates implementation. This means that there is a pressing need for a consistent approach in implementing SDM for both physicians and patients. Healthcare systems should prioritise educating providers on the importance of SDM and ensure that both patients and professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools to engage in meaningful healthcare dialogues toward better treatment outcomes and cost-effective healthcare.

From a patient’s perspective, a lack of information and understanding about their conditions, treatment options, and treatment outcomes remains a challenge. Patients may feel underprepared to engage in decision-making, highlighting the need for better education and resources. Overcoming these obstacles will require a concerted effort to build awareness, improve provider-patient communication, and ensure that the healthcare system supports shared decision-making.

Best Practices in SDM

One of the key enablers of SDM is the availability of tools and resources that support patient education and facilitate the decision-making process. Educational leaflets, support groups, digital resources, and public awareness campaigns all help patients engage in conversations with their doctors and make informed decisions.

Raising awareness among healthcare professionals is equally important. Policies that promote patient-centric care and SDM can lead to better treatment results and a more efficient healthcare system by reducing unnecessary interventions and related costs ensuring patients are on the right treatment path.

In fact, SDM plays a vital role in Atopic dermatitis (AD) — a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by redness and itching — often remains undertreated despite therapeutic advances, leaving patients with a significant long-term disease burden. Shared decision-making (SDM) plays a crucial role in AD care, fostering collaboration between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to set high treatment goals, such as clear or nearly clear skin and minimal itchiness, which can improve overall quality of life.

However, within the Korean healthcare setting, where consultation time is often short and limited, it can be challenging for patients and doctors to engage in in-depth communication to identify the most pressing symptoms, understand what disrupts the patient’s life the most, or prioritise treatment goals. Given this environment, SDM tools serve as a critical support system, enabling patients to prepare for consultations in advance. By completing these tools while waiting to see their doctor, patients can provide multi-dimensional insights into their unmet needs, pressing concerns, and treatment priorities.

Such tools not only empower patients but also help healthcare providers better understand their patients’ needs, facilitating the setting of optimal treatment goals and collaborative decision-making within the constraints of limited consultation time. By promoting SDM, organisations like Hong Kong AD Concern and Korea’s Severe Atopic Dermatitis Association provide educational resources and decision aids that help patients better share the information required to better manage their AD towards optimal treatment goals such as their symptoms and treatment priorities with their doctors. This approach empowers patients to take an active role in managing their condition while enabling healthcare providers to enhance adherence and reduce the average time spent in appointments.

The Future of Healthcare in APAC

Beyond the clinical setting, it is essential to ensure continuity of care. After leaving the healthcare facility, patients often struggle to adhere to their treatment plans, making it vital to stay engaged with them through regular follow-ups and support beyond the clinic to help them achieve the best possible outcomes.

As APAC healthcare systems continue to evolve, the integration of patient-centric care and SDM will be crucial in addressing the region’s healthcare challenges. With aging populations and an increasing burden of chronic diseases, empowering patients to take an active role in their care will not only improve individual patient-wellbeing but also reduce the strain on healthcare systems.

The future of healthcare in APAC lies in embracing these collaborative, inclusive approaches. By prioritising a patient-centric approach to enhance the standard of care, APAC countries can lead the way in delivering efficient and effective healthcare. The path forward involves ongoing education, policy support, and a commitment to engaging both patients and healthcare providers in the pursuit of better health outcomes.

Patient-centered approach represents the next frontier in healthcare, where patients are no longer passive recipients of care but active participants in shaping their health and wellbeing. In APAC, this shift holds the promise of a more resilient, responsive, and equitable healthcare system for all.

Contributed by Peggy Wu, Vice President, Asia, AbbVie