Surgery decision support tools (NHS England)

Summary

Decision support tools, also called patient decision aids, support shared decision making by making treatment, care and support options explicit. They provide evidence-based information about the associated benefits/harms and help patients to consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.

Content

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: making a decision about abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

Decision support tools, also called patient decision aids, support shared decision making by making treatment, care and support options explicit. They provide evidence-based information about the associated benefits/harms and help patients to consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.

Gallstones: making a decision about gallstones

This leaflet is for people with gallstones. It can help you decide whether you want treatment and which treatment to choose. You should go through it and then talk to your healthcare professional.

Glue ear: making a decision about glue ear if your child has hearing loss

This tool can help you decide between treatment options. It is for parents or carers of children younger than 12 years who have glue ear with hearing loss. You can go through it and use it to help you talk to your child’s care team. Your child’s care team includes people from different health professions and specialties who help to manage your child’s glue ear, for example, audiologists, surgeons and other ear specialists.

Inguinal hernia: making a decision about inguinal hernia

This leaflet is for people with an inguinal hernia. It is designed to help you decide between treatment options. You should go through it and then talk to your healthcare professional.

Prostate: making a decision about enlarged prostate (BPE)

This leaflet is for people with an inguinal hernia. It is designed to help you decide between treatment options. You should go through it and then talk to your healthcare professional.

Tonsillitis: making a decision about recurrent tonsillitis in children and adults

This leaflet is for people with an inguinal hernia. It is designed to help you decide between treatment options. You should go through it and then talk to your healthcare professional.

Varicose veins: making a decision about treatment for varicose veins

This leaflet will help you decide about treatments for varicose veins. You could use it to prepare for your next appointment.