Decision aids do improve patients' decision making

Trials of aids to help patients consider the benefits and harms of medical treatments show that they improve patients' knowledge, comfort, and participation in decision making without increasing anxiety. The systematic review by O'Connor et al (p 731) also found that decision aids had little effect on satisfaction and an inconsistent effect on patients' decisions. The trials of decision aids focused on hormone therapy, circumcision, screening for cancer and genetic disorders, and treatments for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. The results consistently showed that decision aids were better than usual practice.

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Relevant Article

Decision aids for patients facing health treatment or screening decisions: systematic review

Annette M O'Connor, Alaa Rostom, Valerie Fiset, Jacqueline Tetroe, Vikki Entwistle, Hilary Llewellyn-Thomas, Margaret Holmes-Rovner, Michael Barry, and Jean Jones
BMJ 1999 319: 731-734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]