Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion

Decision aids are commonly used to support shared decision making. Designed as counseling tools, particularly for preference-sensitive treatments, they provide high-quality information on treatment options and clarify the anticipated outcomes associated with each choice. In this way, they empower patients and facilitate communication and decision making.

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a Perspective by CHERP’s Said Ibrahim, MD, MPH, MBA, on how decision aids may improve communication between providers and patients, especially racial minorities who are much less likely to have needed joint replacement.  Dr. Ibrahim notes that while the prevalence of severe osteoarthritis in older Americans is similar among racial and ethnic groups, numerous studies have reported substantial racial differences in utilization of joint replacement. For instance, black Americans are about 40 to 50% less likely than white Americans to undergo the procedure.

Link to New England Journal of Medicine Perspective.

Dr. Ibrahim is Co-Director of the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, and Senior Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute (LDI).  LDI’s Janet Weiner, PhD, MPH and Jacqueline Nikpour posted a blog about Dr. Ibrahim’s Perspective here https://ldi.upenn.edu/healthpolicysense/will-decision-aids-save-money.