Tag Archives: knee replacement surgery

This month, a much anticipated study was published in Health Affairs that addresses something we are often asked at the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation: What are the effects of decision aids on utilization rates and medical costs? Researchers from Group Health Cooperative found that when decisions aids were used for patients making a decision about whether or not to have elective knee or hip replacement surgeries, there was a significant drop in surgical procedures as more patients opted for more conservative, less costly treatment options. Continue reading →

This article discusses the use of patient decision aids in routine clinical practice for patients considering knee replacement surgery. The decision surrounding a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis is an example of a preference-sensitive decision, meaning there is more than one viable option. Unfortunately, when patients are not fully informed, they are often unsatisfied with the outcome due to unrealistic expectations and a lack of understanding of the potential benefits and harms. The authors describe how implementation of patient decision aids, to support a shared decision making process, may address these issues and improve patient satisfaction, specifically in the context of knee replacement surgery. Continue reading →