Health innovations in patient decision support: bridging the gaps and challenges

• Main Authors: Ng, Chirk Jenn, Lee, Yew Kong, Lee, Ping Yein, Lim Abdullah, Khatijah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australasian Medical Journal 2013
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29621/1/Health%20innovations%20in%20patient%20decision%20support.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29621/; http://www.amj.net.au/index.php/AMJ/article/view/1655

Patient decision aids (PDAs) help to support patients in making an informed and value-based decision. Despite advancement in decision support technologies over the past 30 years, most PDAs are still inaccessible and few address individual needs. Health innovation may provide a solution to bridge these gaps. Information and computer technology provide a platform to incorporate individual profiles and needs into PDAs, making the decision support more personalised. Health innovation may enhance accessibility by using mobile, tablet and Internet technologies; make risk communication more interactive; and identify patient values more effectively. In addition, using databases to capture patient data and the usage of PDAs can help: developers to improve PDAs’ design; clinicians to facilitate the decisionmaking process more effectively; and policy makers to make shared decision making more feasible and cost-effective. Health innovation may hold the key to advancing PDAs by creating a more personalised and effective decision support tool for patients making healthcare decisions.