Decision support tools

Decision support tools, also called patient decision aids, support shared decision making by making treatment, care and support options explicit. They provide evidence-based information about the associated benefits/harms and help patients to consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.

These decision support tools are designed to support shared decision making between patients and a clinician. People may find they are useful before, during or between consultations depending on their care pathway.

Six easy read support tools are available to give people with a learning disability greater accessibility to these tools. This format may also be easier for people whose preferred language is not English.

Cardiovascular

• Atrial fibrillation: making a decision about further treatment for atrial fibrillation

Long term conditions

• Type 1 diabetes: making a decision about managing type 1 diabetes
• NHS Making a decision about heavy periods (england.nhs.uk)   EASY READ VERSION

Medical

• Bipolar disorder: is valproate the right treatment for me
• Epilepsy: is valproate the right epilepsy treatment for me

Ophthalmology

• Cataracts: making a decision about cataracts
• Open-angle glaucoma: making a decision about open-angle glaucoma
• Wet age-related macular degeneration: making a decision about wet age-related macular degeneration

Orthopaedics

• Dupuytren’s contracture: making a decision about Dupuytren’s contracture
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: making a decision about carpal tunnel syndrome
• Hip osteoarthritis: making a decision about hip osteoarthritis
• Knee osteoarthritis: making a decision about knee osteoarthritis

Surgery

• Gallstones: making a decision about gallstones
• england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/decision-support-tool-gallstones-easy-read.pdf    EASY READ VERSION
• Inguinal hernia: making a decision about inguinal hernia
• NHS Making a decision about an inguinal hernia (england.nhs.uk)     EASY READ VERSION
• Prostate: making a decision about enlarged prostate (BPE)
• NHS Making a decision about heavy periods (england.nhs.uk)    EASY READ VERSION
• Tonsillitis: making a decision about recurrent tonsillitis in children and adults
• Varicose veins: making a decision about treatment for varicose veins
• Making a decision about varicose veins (england.nhs.uk)    EASY READ VERSION

Women’s Health

• Making a decision about heavy periods (england.nhs.uk)     EASY READ VERSION
• Making a decision about: managing heavy periods (england.nhs.uk)