About us
The Danish SDM Network consists of Danes with an interest in shared decision making, including patients, SDM researchers, clinician-researchers, and individuals in health policy and management. Our aim is to increase awareness of SDM research and initiatives across Denmark, foster collaboration and support, and address gaps in research and advocacy.
The Danish network was launched in June 2024 and is guided by a steering committee with representation from all regions of Denmark as well as both the primary and secondary healthcare sectors (see list of steering committee members below). The committee organizes two annual events to engage and connect members.
As of March 2025, the network includes approximately 90 members. For any questions about the network or to join as member, please email the national coordinator, Bettina Mølri Knudsen. For more information see also the Danish website.
- Dahl Steffensen K, Mølri Knudsen B, Finderup J, Willemann Würgler M, Olling K. Implementation of patient-centred care in Denmark: The way forward with shared decision-making. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2022 Jun;171:36-41. doi: 10.1016/j.zefq.2022.04.005
- Dahl Steffensen K, Hjelholt Baker V, Vinter MM. Implementing shared decision making in Denmark: First steps and future focus areas. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2017 Jun;123-124:36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.zefq.2017.05.005
- Jacobsen, M.H., Sommer, C., Wernberg, S.A. et al. Evaluation of a national programme to improve shared decision-making skills among junior medical doctors in Denmark: a mixed methods study of satisfaction, usefulness, and dissemination of learning outcomes in clinical practice. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 245 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07639-6
- “SDM:HOSP” – a generic model for hospital-based implementation of Shared Decision Making, PLoS One. 2023 Jan 24;18(1):e0280547. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280547
- Jørgensen MJ, Pedersen CG, Martin HM, Lomborg K. Implementation of patient involvement methods in the clinical setting: A qualitative study exploring the health professional perspective. J Eval Clin Pract. 2020 Jun;26(3):765-776. doi: 10.1111/jep.13217
- Toft BS, Rodkjaer L, Andersen AB, de Thurah A, Nielsen B, Nielsen CP, Hørlück JT, Kallestrup L, Schougaard LMV, Ludvigsen MS, Hoybye MT, Ellegaard T, Bekker H. Measures used to assess interventions for increasing patient involvement in Danish healthcare setting: a rapid review. BMJ Open. 2022 Dec 26;12(12):e064067. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064067
- Hulbæk M, Jørgensen MJ, Mainz H, Birkelund R, Nielsen JB, Debrabant B, et al. Danish translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the shared decision making questionnaire – patient version (SDM-Q-9-pat) Eur J Pers Cent Healthc. 2018;6(3):438–446. doi: 10.5750/ejpch.v6i3.1529
- Finderup J, Bekker HL, Albèr NT, Boel S, Buur LE, von Essen HS, Kristensen AW, Lyng KD, Vedelø TW, Rasmussen GS, Skovlund PC, Søndergaard SR, Giguère A. Measuring healthcare professionals’ perceptions of their ability to adopt shared decision making: Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Danish version of the IcanSDM questionnaire. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2024 Nov 15;24(1):340. doi: 10.1186/s12911-024-02747-1
- Knudsen, B. M., & Steffensen, K. D. (2024). Translation and cultural adaption of the control preference scale across various care settings in a Danish hospital. Journal of patient-reported outcomes, 8(1), 91. doi.org/10.1186/s41687-024-00771-3
- Knudsen, B. M., Olling, K., & Dahl Steffensen, K. (2024). Translation and cultural adaption of Observer OPTION5 and OPTION12 in a Danish context. Health Literacy and Communication Open, 2(1), 2436891. doi.org/10.1080/28355245.2024.2436891
Bettina Mølri Knudsen (Denmark)
Affiliation: PhD student, National Coordinator of Danish SDM Network, Center for Shared Decision Making, Lillebaelt Hospital – University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark
SDM Projects:
Implementation and evaluation of patient decision aids
Patient and public involvement in SDM research
Improvement of decision-making in healthcare
Email: Bettina.Knudsen@rsyd.dk
- Knudsen, B. M., Søndergaard, S. R., Stacey, D., & Steffensen, K. D. (2024). Impact of timing and format of patient decision aids for breast cancer patients on their involvement in and preparedness for decision making-the IMPACTT randomised controlled trial protocol. BMC cancer, 24(1), 336. Impact of timing and format of patient decision aids for breast cancer patients on their involvement in and preparedness for decision making – the IMPACTT randomised controlled trial protocol
- Steffensen, K. D., Knudsen, B. M., Finderup, J., Würgler, M. W., & Olling, K. (2022). Implementation of patient-centred care in Denmark: the way forward with shared decision-making. Zeitschrift für Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen, 171, 36-41. Implementation of patient-centred care in Denmark: The way forward with shared decision-making
- Kargo, A. S., Jensen, P. T., Lindemann, K., Hjøllund, N. H., Liposits, G. I., Raaschou-Jensen, N., … & Steffensen, K. D. (2021). Association of patient-reported outcomes and ovarian cancer recurrence. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 31(9). Association of patient-reported outcomes and ovarian cancer recurrence
Jeanette Finderup (Denmark)
Affiliation: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark and Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
SDM Projects:
Jeanette Finderup work both clinically and academically with shared decision making. She has developed and evaluated three shared decision making interventions for people with kidney failure. The intervention includes training of healthcare professionals, patient decision aids, and conversations between patient, relatives and healthcare professionals. The interventions are implemented and part of usual practice at 11 out of 14 hospitals in Denmark. Jeanette is the lead of the Danish shared decision making research group.
Leah Sejrup Christensen (Denmark)
Affiliation: PhD student, Internal Medicine Research Unit, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
SDM Projects:
Family involvement during patient hospitalisation, developing and implementing a decision aid
Family involvement during the outpatient programme
Involving children and adolescents as close relatives during patient hospitalisation
- SDM, health literacy and family involvement (upcoming project)
- Christensen, L. S., Jensen, A. D., Christiansen, M., Brink, A., & Sørensen, T. L. (2024). Involving change agents implementing a systematic approach to family involvement during patient hospitalization. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2024;29(Suppl 1):A107-A108 (conference abstract).
- Christensen, L. S., Jensen, A. D., Jørgensen, L. O., Christiansen, M., & Brink, A. (2024). Shared Decision Making and Family Involvement During Hospitalisation (conference abstract), pages 18-19 in Dieperink, K. B. (Ed.), & Clausen, A. M. (2024). Abstract book Nordic Conference in Family Health and Care (NFHC24). Syddansk Universitet. https://doi.org/10.21996/a8hx-be83
Lisbeth Snede (Denmark)
Affiliation: President, United Patient Involvement and Collaboration Community (U-PICC), Founder at Patients Unite, Steering group member at Danish SDM Network
SDM Projects:
Patient Involvement: Promoting patient engagement and empowerment in healthcare decision-making processes.
Healthcare Innovation: Developing patient-centric tools and platforms that enhance patient involvement in clinical research and healthcare policy.
Educational Initiatives: Creating and disseminating educational resources to improve patient literacy and decision-making capabilities.
- Networking and Collaboration: Building and nurturing networks that connect patients, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to improve shared decision-making.
Rikke Rask (Denmark)
Affiliation: Implementation Consultant, Master of Science (MSc) in Health Science, Center for Shared Decision Making, Lillebaelt Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark
SDM Projects:
Implementing shared decision making in healthcare
Support and improve processes and activities that promote shared decision making in healthcare
Developing tools to support healthcare professionals and patients in shared decision making
- Development of patient decision aids
Email: Rikke.Rask@rsyd.dk
Karina Olling (Denmark)
Affiliation: Manager, BScN, Center for Shared Decision Making, Lillebaelt Hospital – University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark
SDM Projects:
Strategic and personal leadership
Development and evaluation of SDM implementation strategies
Building bridges between SDM research, implementation and clinical practice
Email: karina.olling@rsyd.dk
Kristian Damgaard Lyng (Denmark)
Affiliation: PhD-student at Aalborg University and Center for General Practice at Aalborg University
SDM Projects:
Implementation of SDM in clinical practice
Supporting the sustainability in practice
Evaluation of SDM in clinical practice
Email: klyng@dcm.aau.dk
Vibeke B. Andersen (Denmark)
Affiliation: Patient representative, patient in mental health services for 33 years, but now free of symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia for the fourth year thanks to VR treatment.
SDM Projects:
Has participated in two steering groups since 2020 as a patient representative.
Teacher on the “Teach the Teachers” courses in mental health services alongside professionals.
Gives presentations on SDM from the patient’s perspective.
E-mail: vibekeandersen188@gmail.com
Marlene Würgler (Denmark)
Affiliation: Sociologist, head of unit at the Centre for Patient Involvement, Capital Region of Denmark
SDM Projects:
Support, assistance, and guidance on patient involvement close to clinical practice.
User surveys and evaluations focusing on the experiences of patients, relatives, and healthcare staff.
National Survey of Patient Experiences.
Pia Keinicke Fabricius (Denmark)
Affiliation: RN, PhD, Project leader, Department of Ear-Nose-Throat Surgery, Zealand University Hospital (Køge), Denmark.
SDM Projects:
Co-designing a medication conversation guide to support SDM with older poly-medicated patients in the medical ED context.
Co-designing and implementing a patient decision aid for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients in an outpatient clinic.
Implementing decision coaching in a nurse-led out-patient OSA clinic (upcoming intervention).
E-mail: piafa@regionsjaelland.dk