Multimorbidities

Abstract Multimorbidity is commonly defined as the presence of two or more chronic diseases in the same individual. Patients with multimorbidity are faced with many decisions about their health. This can be supported through shared decision making (SDM). SDM is the process of explaining to patients that a decision is to be made, describing the available options, each with potential benefits and harms, eliciting patient preferences, and collaboratively deciding on the best course of action. SDM is especially important in patients with multimorbidity because it can help ensure that health interventions address what matters most in the patient's life and personal circumstances. At the same time, multimorbidity complicates SDM. For example, a decision around treatment options for early‐stage breast cancer is more challenging if a patient has diabetes, let alone if the patient also suffers from depression. In this entry, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of SDM in patients with multimorbidity.