Episode 15: Bridging the Gap: How Patient Decision Aids Enhance Patient Engagement in Health Decisions

In this episode, host Ann-Marie is joined by Dr. Krystina Lewis to discuss the pivotal role of decision aids in fostering patient engagement in healthcare. Krystina is an Associate Professor with the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa and an Affiliate Researcher with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Center for Implementation Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Her research focuses on effective interventions to promote patient and public engagement in health care.

Patient decision aids are tools—booklets, videos, web portals—designed to help patients understand their options, clarify their values, and make informed health decisions that align with their preferences and needs. This conversation highlights the development, evaluation, and implementation of decision aids, their positive outcomes, and the challenges of integrating them into clinical practice.

One significant project discussed is the update of the Cochrane review on patient decision aids. While this systematic review highlights the positive outcomes of decision aids—like better-informed patients and clearer personal values—other outcomes such as patient adherence and cost-effectiveness mark an exciting avenue for future research.

Click here to access the A to Z Inventory of Patient Decision Aids.

Ottawa Personal Decision Guide – Ottawa Hospital and Research Institute & University of Ottawa, translated into over 10 languages and adapted for Indigenous peoples)