Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Controlled studies and non-controlled studies using simple one-group designs were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Decision aids to assist the treatment decisions of patients, or prevention or early detection of disease. Decision aids were either:
1. Written materials.
2. Oral presentations of information combined with written and/or visual materials.
3. Video programmes.
4. Computer-based programs.
5. Programmes in which interpersonal counselling is given to patients (often combined with written and/or visual materials).
Participants included in the review
Healthy volunteers, menopausal and postmenopausal women, pregnant women, patients at high risk for cancer, or patients with cancer, or chronic conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, or peptic ulcers. Patients facing or not facing decisions.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes were effects on results of decision making and influence on health outcomes (patients' knowledge, beliefs, expectations, health status, exercise of preferences, satisfaction, conflict, intention and interaction with care providers). Other outcomes assessed for the research questions not pertinent to this review were: feasibility and acceptability or acceptance, consistency of patients' treatment preferences, determinants of decision making, and decision-making process.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.