Although other studies have indicated that patients facing life-threatening conditions tend to be more passive in care decisions, patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (a non-life-threatening condition) prefer to be collaborators in the decision-making process, according to a new study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. In addition, study author Dr. Hyun Sik Gong said that the trend toward patient-centered care essentially means involving patients in their own care decisions, rather than others dictating their care. "This study shows the majority of patients wanted to share decision-making with their physicians, and patients should feel comfortable asking questions and expressing their preferences regarding care," Gong said in a press release. "Patient-centered care emphasizes the incorporation of individual styles of decision making to provide a more patient-centered consultation." Press release