This article briefly sets out what a patient decision aid is and findings from research that there is a growing desire amongst patients to be more involved in decisions about their treatment and care.

This article gives an overview of the rationale for the use of patient decision aids, what they contain, the evidence of their efficacy, and examples of their current and potential uses. The article quotes a recent systematic review of perr reviewed journals finding that, in 63% of articles most patients expressed a wish to actively participate in decisions around their treatment, and that this wish appears to have increased over time.

This was especially clear for cancer patients, where most patients in 85% of the 27 studies published since 2000 wished to be involved in treatment decisions.