Shared decision-making is an approach that can be used to find common ground.  It allows patients to become more involved in their medication choices and treatment goals.  Together, health professionals and the patients can embrace and work  to gain control of the illness.  Health care providers can suggest strategies to patients that will help them improve decision making such as taking notes and the use of recorders to increase the quantity and quality of information retained.  Another strategy is to have patients prepare a detailed list or bag of medications to generate discussion of treatment preferences, complaints, or problems.  Finally, having a second listener such as a spouse or a family member improves the exchange of information and helps patients interpret information.