The team in Newcastle working on the Health Foundation’s MAGIC programme to implement shared decision making developed a series of Brief Decision Aids on a wide variety of conditions. The decision aids provide a brief description of the condition and set out the different options for managing it and the benefits, risks and consequences of each.

They are designed to support people to make an informed decision about their treatment and care. All the Brief Decision Aids developed by the Newcastle team can be downloaded from here. There is also a guide for clinicians to using Brief Decision Aids.

Brief Decision Aids

How to do shared decision making: a guide for clinicians to using Brief Decision Aids

Brief Decision Aid: anal fissure in adults

Brief Decision Aid: carpal tunnel syndrome

Brief Decision Aid: options for contraception

Brief Decision Aid: cramps in the legs

Brief Decision Aid: heavy menstrual bleeding (heavy periods)

Brief Decision Aid: irritable bowel syndrome

Brief Decision Aid: myasthenia gravis – considering taking immunosuppressants

Brief Decision Aid: myasthenia gravis – supporting information on Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)

Brief Decision Aid: myasthenia gravis – supporting information on steroids

Brief Decision Aid: myasthenia gravis – supporting information on Azathioprine

Brief Decision Aid: plantar fasciitis (heel / foot pain)

Brief Decision Aid: prostate gland enlargement

Brief Decision Aid: ways to stop smoking

Brief Decision Aid: tennis elbow

Brief Decision Aid: warts and verrucae

Other decision aids

The team developed these additional decision aids which use a different format:

Choosing how to have your baby after a Caesarean Section

This decision aid is sets out the choices, with the pros and cons for each, and includes a series of questions to help the person who is making the choice determine what is important to them about the type of birth they want.

Breast surgery choice: understanding my options

This decision aid is designed to help people facing a choice about breast surgery to understand their options and explore what matters most to them.

Do I want a screening test for Downs syndrome?

This leaflet provides some facts about the screening text and some of the reasons for and against accepting or declining the test.