Towards Patient-Centered Care in Internal Medicine: A PLS-SEM Model of Shared Decision-Making and Patient Satisfaction Among Patients with Chronic Conditions

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Background/Objectives: Patient-centered care has become an important component of chronic disease management. Patients are increasingly involved in complex decisions about their treatment, while effective doctor–patient communication, access to clear medical information, and active involvement in decision-making can contribute to a better care experience. This study aimed to identify the main factors associated with patient participation in medical decision-making and to examine the relationship between participation and patient satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 176 patients with chronic conditions. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. The proposed relationships between doctor–patient communication, trust in the doctor, ability to understand medical information, patient involvement in their own care, quality of information provided, participation in medical decision-making, and patient satisfaction were examined using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: All five factors examined were positively and significantly associated with patient participation in medical decision-making. Doctor–patient communication showed the strongest association, followed by patient involvement in their own care and ability to understand medical information. The model explained 69.3% of the variance in participation in medical decision-making (R2 = 0.693). Participation was strongly associated with patient satisfaction and explained 56.2% of its variance (R2 = 0.562). Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of actively involving patients with chronic conditions in medical decision-making. Greater patient participation was associated with higher satisfaction with the care received.