Table 2.

Effect of decision aids on decisional conflict

Decision	Decision aid			Comparison group		Weight	Mean difference (95% CI)
	No of patients	Mean (SD) conflict score		No of patients	Mean (SD) conflict score
Compared with usual care
Prostate specific antigen test19	50	1.8 (0.5)		50	2.2 (0.7)	27.5	−0.4 (−0.7 to −0.2)
Ischaemic heart disease25	86	2.1 (1.5)		94	2.1 (1.5)	8.1	0.0 (−0.4 to 0.4)
Compared with less intensive decision aid
Hormone therapy28	83	2.6 (1.0)		89	3.0 (1.0)	17.8	−0.4 (−0.7 to −0.1)
Hormone therapy26	81	2.1 (0.6)		84	2.3 (0.6)	46.6	−0.2 (−0.4 to −0.02)
Total (fixed effects χ2=3.89 (df =3), Z=4.3)	300			317		100	−0.3 (−0.4 to −0.1)

Decisional conflict ranges theoretically from 1 (strong agreement that one is certain, informed, clear about values, and supported in decision making) and 5 (strong disagreement). Scores above 2.5 are associated with decision delay and those below 2 are associated with decision implementation. A negative mean difference means the decision aid had a positive benefit.