decisions and feel confident they have made the 'right' choices. Health professionals are sometimes willing to tell their patients what they would do faced with similar dilemmas; this is seen as a particularly valuable piece of information which many people see is part of the information jigsaw rather than an indication that they should do the same. Knowing what the health professional would choose, and why, can help patients feel particularly reassured with the choices they make. People sometimes believe that their input as a patient is crucial in the process of decision making. The vast variation between people's contexts, experiences and reactions means that it can be hard for a health professional to know what is best for the patient if they are unaware of factors that may be unique to the patient. Considering patients' individual experiences and contexts enables a course of action which is most appropriate or tailored towards the patient's specific needs. Patients may particularly wish to be involved in decisions if they have a long term condition in which they have gained expertise. People with conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes and neurological conditions had often learnt a lot about their condition and how it affected them and obviously wanted this information to contribute to discussions with clinicians. Eddie, below, felt that his experience was dismissed by his doctor. When managing multiple conditions people may feel it is particularly important to make sure that they communicate their experiences and contexts are taken into account. For