Table 5.

Criteria for assessing patient educational tools

Criteria Focus
Content
Does the patient decision aid…	Provide information about options in sufficient detail for decision-making? Present probability of outcomes in an unbiased and understandable way? Include information that reflects expectations for the quality of daily life and long-term functional capacities? Include methods for clarifying and expressing patients’ values? Include attention to the effects of therapy on personal and family functioning? Include structured guidance in deliberation and communication?
Development
Does the patient decision aid…	Present information in a balanced manner? Have a systematic development process? Use current scientific evidence that is cited in a reference section or technical document? Disclose conflicts of interest? Use plain, accurate, culturally appropriate, and standardized language?
Effectiveness
Using the patient decision aid, does the patient…	Recognize a decision needs to be made and with what timetable? Know the options and their features? Understand that values affect decision? Discuss values with their practitioners? Improve the match between the chosen option and the features that matter most to the informed patient?