Patient Decision Aids piloted

28 Sep 2010

NHS Direct has received funding from our commissioner, the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) to develop, pilot and implement online Patient Decision Aids (PDAs). These are designed to help patients make difficult decisions about their treatments and medical tests.

In developing the PDAs, we have used the knowledge and skills acquired when developing our existing web services, such as the health and symptom checkers. Like our other web services, the aim is to provide patients with easy access to health information, and in turn help ensure NHS resources are used appropriately.

NHS doctor consulting with patientPatient Decision Aids are used when there is no clinical evidence that one treatment is better than another and patients aren’t sure which option will be best for them. Research shows that PDAs are really effective in helping patients make informed choices about their healthcare and increase patients’ awareness of the expected risks, benefits and likely outcomes. 

To date, NHS Direct has developed and piloted three Patient Decision Aids: one for patients with an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia); another one for patients newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer; and the third for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. These three Patient Decision Aids can be accessed by the links on the right hand side of this page.

Man reviewing a Patient Decision Aid onlinePatients who took part in the pilot were given access to the PDAs via their GP, nurse or specialist clinician. They were provided with a wealth of information including pros and cons of the treatment options and access to filmed interviews with people who live with the conditions.

Patients were also asked to complete a short questionnaire to assess their treatment preferences, which they can later discuss with their specialists at their next appointment.

The pilot of the first three Patient Decision Aids ended on 31 August 2010. The websites are currently being amended and will be available on the NHS Direct website by November 2010. In addition, six additional decision aids should be available before April 2011.

Mary Archer, Chairman, Urology Informed Decision Making Project, says:
“The decision support programme is remarkable because it opens access to high quality peer approved information and support to help people faced with difficult treatment decisions.”

Dr Steven Laitner, Associate Medical Director, East of England SHA, says:
“Making a decision about the best treatment for you can be difficult. Patient Decision Aids have a proven track record of helping patients and their clinicians to make informed choices.”

Patients who have used the decision aids during the pilot say:

  • "All the necessary information was there in simple illustrative manner"
  • "I am better informed now, more able to engage in a conversation about the treatment"
  • "I feel more confident about my outpatient appointment. I might understand more because I know more in advance"
  • "I now have a better understanding and will need to ask less questions. When discussing with the doctor I will have a better understanding of what he is telling me"
  • "Own time, own space, own pace"

For further information about the online Patient Decision Aid project, please contact the project manager, Dr Marie-Anne Durand by emailing marie-anne.durand@nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

 

Prostate cancer

Patient Decision Aid for people newly diagnosed with localised prostate cancer

Older man looking thoughtful

Knee arthritis

Patient Decision Aid for people with arthritis of the knee

Older lady in white shirt
PDA

BPH

Patient Decision Aid for people newly diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

benign prostatic hyperplasia - Patient Decision Aid