Health literacy · Healthcare navigation
Decision aids can support informed choices. Here is how to prepare questions about options, benefits, harms, and what matters to you.
Evidence: Cochrane systematic review · 2024
Why this matters
An appointment can involve several options and limited time. Preparing a few focused questions can help you explain what matters and understand the decision you are being asked to make.
What the review found
The 2024 Cochrane review found that patient decision aids improved knowledge and accurate perceptions of risk, and helped people feel more informed and clearer about their values. They probably supported more informed choices aligned with those values. Decision aids describe relevant options, including benefits and harms, and help people consider preferences.
What this does not prove
A decision aid supports a conversation; it does not choose for you or replace clinical expertise. The review does not establish that every coaching conversation is a decision aid, or that Jenn’s services produce the reviewed outcomes. Further research is needed on downstream effects, including adherence and resource use.
Questions to take with you
What are my options, including waiting or doing nothing when appropriate? What benefits and harms might apply to me? Can you explain the numbers using the same time period and denominator? How do my priorities affect the choice? Is there a reliable decision aid for this specific decision? What happens next, and when should I seek further help? These are suggested preparation prompts, not personalized medical advice.
Connection to Know Your Body
This supports the book’s Chapter 10 theme of informed, shared decisions. A Health Clarity Session can help individuals organize questions and priorities before speaking with their healthcare team. Diagnosis, testing, and treatment decisions remain with qualified clinicians and the person receiving care.
Read the source
Educational information; individual clinical questions belong with a qualified healthcare professional.