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Decision aids: are they worth it? A systematic review
C Estabrooks1, V Goel, E Thiel
1Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
|July 27, 2001
Summary
Consumer decision aids (CDAs) show promise in improving some health outcomes, particularly knowledge and decision-making processes. However, more research is needed to establish their effects on treatment preferences and actual decisions.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Medical Decision Making
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Consumer decision support interventions (CDAs) have gained prominence with the rise of evidence-based healthcare.
- The impact of CDAs on patient outcomes remains largely under-investigated despite their increasing use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify outcomes influenced by consumer decision aids (CDAs).
- To determine the specific effects of CDAs on these identified outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and other study designs.
- Searches conducted across multiple databases including Medline, Cancerlit, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library.
- Inclusion criteria required real consumer decisions, a strict definition of CDA, and focus on treatment or screening, with 12 studies meeting final criteria after validity assessment.
Main Results:
- Published research on CDAs is growing but remains limited.
- CDAs demonstrably influence consumer knowledge and decision-making processes.
- Evidence for CDA impact on treatment preferences and the final decision is not yet conclusive.
Conclusions:
- CDAs can lead to improved outcomes in certain categories.
- Insufficient evidence currently supports widespread improved outcomes across all categories.
- The sustainability of funding for CDA development and testing requires further evaluation given their costs.