Within the course of every illness
or health problem, you have to make decisions-little decisions about whether to
call a doctor and what self-care is best, and big decisions about medications,
tests, and surgeries. Decision Point topics focus on medical care decisions you
Decision Point topics help you understand the key
information and important issues related to your decision. Before you can make
an informed decision it's important that you:
- Fully understand the medical problem and
testing or treatment options.
- Consider your personal values and
This information will help you work in partnership with
your doctor. When both you and your doctor participate in the decision-making
process, you'll reach the decision that best fits your needs and
This image identifies links
to Decision Points. The links can appear in any section of a related topic but
most often appear in the Treatment Overview, the Exams and Tests section, or the Living With … section. Decision
Points can also be found in the Health Tools section of a topic.
What's included within a Decision Point?
Key points to remember
are the core of a decision. They capture the most important information in the
Decision Point and present it in an easy-to-understand format. Often, key
points summarize compelling medical information, offer a concise look at risk
versus benefit, explain possible short-term and long-term outcomes, cite expert
recommendations, or even offer common-sense advice. The remaining sections in
the Decision Point support the statements made in the key points.
The"FAQs" section presents
medical information in question-and-answer format. This section includes
medical facts about the options presented in the Decision Point, such
- What's involved in each option.
- How well each option works.
- How factors such as stage of disease, health history, and age
might affect the decision.
- What the clinical guidelines recommend.
"Compare Options" section offers a side-by-side comparison table that allows
you to directly compare the benefits and risks of each option. Personal stories
about people who chose each option are included.
The "Your Feelings" section helps
you think about and express your feelings and preferences about the
"Your Decision" section asks which option you are leaning toward, after having
learned the key medical facts and thought about what matters to you.
The "Quiz Yourself"
section lets you check your knowledge of the facts. You can also express how
confident you feel about making the decision and record any other concerns you
"Your Summary" section collects the information you have entered throughout the
Decision Point so that you can review it and even make a printout to take to
your next doctor's visit. Your doctor can use the summary page to see how well
you understand the medical facts, what your personal feelings are about the
decision, and which way you're leaning. You can also share the printout with
anyone else whom you want to involve in the decision.