Role in decision making among congestive heart failure patients and its association with patient outcomes: a baseline analysis of the SCOPAH study

•Multi-ethnic Asian population with heart failure was surveyed.•Shared decision making is associated with better patient outcomes.•Patient participation should be encouraged when making treatment decisions. We investigated the predictors of patient-experienced and preferred roles for decision making, and the association between patient-experienced role in decision making and patient outcomes among congestive heart failure (HF) patients in a multi-ethnic Asian population. We surveyed 246 HF patients classified as New York Heart Association class 3/4. Multivariable regressions were used to analyse the associations between patient-experienced roles and patient outcomes. Patients who were male, attained higher education, and had a higher cognitive score were more likely to experience and prefer active roles in decision making. Younger patients and patients with lower symptom burden were more likely, while married patients were less likely to prefer leading decision making. Patients with collaborative (family and/or physician) decision making reported higher emotional well-being and sense of meaning/peace. Collaborative and patient-led decision making were associated with higher perceived control over illness. Those who were led by others or made decisions alone reported lower quality of physician communication. Collaborative decision making was associated with higher emotional well-being, sense of meaning/peace, and higher perceived control over illness among HF patients. Physicians should explain the benefits of shared decision making and encourage patients to participate in treatment decisions.