Decision aids in anesthesia: do they help?

Patient decision aids are educational tools used to assist patients and clinicians in healthcare decisions. As healthcare moves toward patient-centered care, these tools can provide support to anesthesiologists by facilitating shared decision-making.

Recent research has shown that patient decision aids are beneficial in the clinical setting for patients and physicians. Studies have shown that patients feel better informed, have better knowledge, and have less anxiety, depression, and decisional conflict after using patient decision aids. In addition, a structured approach for the development of patient decision aids in the field of anesthesia has been established.

Patient decision aids can support patient-centered care delivery and shared decision-making, especially in the field of anesthesia. Current research involves implementing the use of patient decision aids in the discussion for monitored anesthesia care. Further development of quality metrics is needed to improve the decision aids and maximize decision quality.