Collaborative care: Using six thinking hats for decision making

Aim: To apply six thinking hats technique for decision making in collaborative care.

Background: In collaborative partnerships, effective communications need to occur in patient, family, and health care professional meetings. The effectiveness of these meetings depends on the engagement of participants and the quality of the meeting process. The use of six thinking hats technique to engage all participants in effective dialogue is proposed.

Design: Discussion paper.

Data sources: Electronic databases, CINAHL, Pub Med, and Science Direct, were searched for years 1990 to 2017.

Implications for nursing: Using six thinking hats technique in patient family meetings nurses can guide a process of dialogue that focuses decision making to build equal care partnerships inclusive of all participants. Nurses will need to develop the skills for using six thinking hats technique and provide support to all participants during the meeting process.

Conclusion: Collaborative decision making can be augmented by six thinking hat technique to provide patients, families, and health professionals with opportunities to make informed decisions about care that considers key issues for all involved. Nurses who are most often advocates for patients and their families are in a unique position to lead this initiative in meetings as they network with all health professionals.