Alphabetical List of Decision Aids by Health Topic

Click on a title below to view a brief description that will help you decide if the decision aid will meet your needs

Acne

• Acne: Should I see my doctor?  Healthwise
• Acne: Should I take isotretinoin for severe acne?  Healthwise

Allergy

• Allergies: Should I take allergy shots?  Healthwise
• Allergies: Should I take shots for insect sting allergies?  Healthwise

Alternative Medicine

• Complementary medicine: Should I use complementary medicine?  Healthwise

Alzheimer's Disease

• Alzheimer's disease: Should I take medicines?  Healthwise
• Alzheimer's or other dementia: Should I move my relative into long-term care?  Healthwise
• Alzheimer's: Variety of long-term care options are available  Mayo Clinic

Angina

• Angina treatment: Stents, drugs, lifestyle changes - What's best?  Mayo Clinic

Ankle Injuries and Disorders

• Achilles tendon rupture: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Aortic Aneurysm

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test?  Healthwise

Arrhythmia

• Atrial fibrillation: Should I try electrical cardioversion?  Healthwise
• Heart problems: Should I have catheter ablation?  Healthwise
• Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker?  Healthwise
• Heart rate problems: Should I get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?  Healthwise

Arthritis

• I have never taken medication for rheumatoid arthritis before. Should I take methotrexate (Rheumatrex®) alone or with other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I have transcutaneous electrostimulation (TENS) for osteoarthritis (OA) in my knee?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I have ultrasound treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) in my knee?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take abatacept (Orencia®) for rheumatoid arthritis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take etanercept (Enbrel®) for rheumatoid arthritis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take methotrexate (Rheumatrex®) for rheumatoid arthritis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take tocilizumab (Actemra®) for rheumatoid arthritis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• What are my options for managing hip or knee osteoarthritis?  University of Ottawa

Atrial Fibrillation

• Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Guide for Adults  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• ADHD: Should my child take medicine for ADHD?  Healthwise

Back Pain

• Low back pain: Should I have an MRI?  Healthwise
• Low back pain: Should I have spinal manipulation?  Healthwise
• Low back pain: Should I try epidural steroid shots?  Healthwise

Birth Control

• Birth Control Guide  Mayo Clinic
• La vasectomie: Est-ce le bon choix pour moi? Un outil d'aide a la decision  University of Laval, Quebec City

Blood Pressure Medicines

• ACE Inhibitors and ARBs To Protect Your Heart?  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Comparing Two Kinds of Blood Pressure Pills: ACEIs and ARBs  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Blood Transfusion and Donation

• Blood transfusions: Should I bank blood before surgery?  Healthwise

Breast and Ovarian Cancer

• BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing  National Cancer Institute
• Breast cancer risk: Should I have a BRCA gene test?  Healthwise
• Genetic Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk: It's Your Choice  National Cancer Institute

Breast Cancer

• A Patchwork of Life - One Woman's Story, For Women Making Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions  Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine
• Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer  American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Breast cancer: Should I have breast-conserving surgery or a mastectomy for early-stage cancer?  Healthwise
• Breast cancer: Should I have chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer?  Healthwise
• Breast cancer: What should I do if I'm at high risk?  Healthwise
• Breast Reconstruction: Is it right for you?  Health Dialog
• Choosing whether to continue or stop mammography screening at 70  University of Sydney
• Ductal carcinoma in situ: Choosing your treatment  Health Dialog
• Early Breast Cancer: Hormone Therapy and Chemotherapy: Are They Right for You?  Health Dialog
• Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Choosing your surgery  Health Dialog
• Information on Mammography for Women Aged 40 and Older: A Decision Aid for Breast Cancer Screening in Canada  Public Health Agency of Canada
• Prophylactic oophorectomy: Preventing cancer by surgically removing your ovaries  Mayo Clinic
• Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer With Medicine: A Guide for Women  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Should I Start Having Mammograms to Screen for Breast Cancer?  University of Sydney
• Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer  National Cancer Institute

Breast Feeding

• Breast-feeding: Should I breast-feed my baby?  Healthwise

Breast Reconstruction

• Breast cancer: Should I have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy?  Healthwise

Bronchitis

• Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?  Healthwise

Carotid Artery Disease

• Treatment choice for Carotid Artery Disease  Health Dialog

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Cervical Cancer

• Pap test: Should I have colposcopy if my Pap test shows minor cell changes?  Healthwise

Childbirth

• Birth Choices: What is best for you... Vaginal or Caesarean Birth?  University of Wollongong
• Do you want a water birth?  MIDIRS
• Epidural pain relief in labour  MIDIRS
• If your baby is in the breech position, what are your choices?  MIDIRS
• Making Choices: options for a pregnancy woman with a breech baby  Centre for Perinatal Health Services Research
• Positions in labour and delivery  MIDIRS
• Pregnancy: Should I have an epidural during childbirth?  Healthwise
• Pregnancy: Should I try vaginal birth after a past C-section (VBAC)?  Healthwise
• Thinking About Inducing Your Labor: A Guide for Pregnant Women  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) guide  Mayo Clinic
• Where will you have your baby?  MIDIRS

Childhood Immunization

• HPV: Should my daughter get the vaccine?  Healthwise
• The MMR Decision Aid: Are you considering MMR vaccination for your child?  National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
• What can you do to prevent HPV and cervical cancer? A decision aid for parents/guardians of girls in Grade 8 in Ontario  Ottawa Patient Decision Aid Research Group

Cholesterol

• High cholesterol: Should I take statins?  Healthwise
• Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks  Mayo Clinic
• Statins: Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you?  Mayo Clinic

Circumcision

• Circumcision: Should I keep my son's penis natural?  Healthwise

Colorectal Cancer

• Colon Cancer Screening: Deciding What's Right For You  Health Dialog
• Colon cancer: Which screening test should I have?  Healthwise
• Making decisions: Should I have a screening test for bowel cancer?  University of Sydney

Connective Tissue Disorders

• Dupuytren's disease: Should I have hand surgery?  Healthwise

COPD

• Making Choices: The Use of Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation for Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  Ottawa Patient Decision Aid Research Group

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

• Heart disease: Should I have bypass surgery?  Healthwise

Coronary Artery Disease

• Heart disease: Should I have an angiogram?  Healthwise
• Heart disease: Should I have angioplasty for stable angina?  Healthwise
• Treatment choices for Coronary Artery Disease  Health Dialog

CPR

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a decision aid for patients and their families  Queen's University

Depression

• Antidepressant Medicines - A Guide for Adults With Depression  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Coping with symptoms of depression  Health Dialog
• Depression: Should I stop taking my antidepressant?  Healthwise
• Depression: Should I take an antidepressant?  Healthwise
• Depression: Should I take antidepressants while I'm pregnant?  Healthwise
• Depression: Should my child take medicine to treat depression?  Healthwise

Diabetes

• Diabetes: Should I get pregnant?  Healthwise
• Pills for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for Adults  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Premixed Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for Adults  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Diabetes Type I

• Diabetes: Should I get an insulin pump?  Healthwise

Ear Infections

• Ear infection: Should I give my child antibiotics?  Healthwise
• Ear problems: Should my child be treated for fluid buildup in the middle ear?  Healthwise

Elbow Injuries and Disorders

• Tennis elbow: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

End of Life Issues

• Autopsy: Should I have an autopsy done on my loved one?  Healthwise
• End-of-life care: Should I have artificial hydration and nutrition?  Healthwise
• End-of-life care: Should I receive CPR and life support?  Healthwise
• End-of-life care: Should I stop kidney dialysis?  Healthwise
• End-of-life care: Should I stop treatment that prolongs my life?  Healthwise
• Making Choices: Long Term Feeding Tube Placement in Elderly Patients  Ottawa Patient Decision Aid Research Group
• Understanding the Options: Planning care for critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit  Ottawa Patient Decision Aid Research Group
• When you need extra care, should you receive it at home or in a facility?  Ottawa Patient Decision Aid Research Group

Erectile Dysfunction

• Erection problems: Should I take medicine?  Healthwise
• Erection problems: Should I try injection treatments?  Healthwise

Eye Diseases

• Blocked tear ducts: Should my baby have a probing procedure?  Healthwise
• Cataracts: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Nearsightedness: Should I have laser surgery?  Healthwise

Flu (Influenza)

• Flu vaccines: Should I get a flu vaccine?  Healthwise
• Flu: Should I take antiviral medicine?  Healthwise
• Should Your Family Get the H1N1 Vaccine?  Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Gallbladder Diseases

• Gallstones: Should I have gallbladder surgery?  Healthwise

GERD

• GERD: Which treatment should I use?  Healthwise

Hair Diseases and Hair Loss

• Hair loss: Should I take medicine to regrow hair?  Healthwise

Headache

• Headaches: Should I have imaging tests to find out what's causing my headaches?  Healthwise
• Headaches: Should I take medicine to prevent migraines?  Healthwise
• Headaches: Should I take prescription medicine for tension headaches?  Healthwise

Hearing disorders

• Hearing loss: Should I get a hearing aid?  Healthwise

Heart Attack and Stroke

• Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?  Healthwise

Heart Diseases

• Heart disease risk: Should I have a coronary calcium scan?  Healthwise

Heart Failure

• Heart failure: Should I get a pacemaker (cardiac resynchronization therapy)?  Healthwise
• Heart failure: Should I get an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)?  Healthwise

Heart Valve Diseases

• Aortic valve stenosis: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Heart valve problems: Should I choose a mechanical valve or tissue valve to replace my heart valve?  Healthwise

Heel injuries and disorders

• Plantar fasciitis: Should I have surgery for heel pain?  Healthwise

Hemophilia

• Hemophilia: Should I have regularly scheduled or on-demand clotting factor replacement?  Healthwise

Hemorrhoids

• Hemorrhoids: Which treatment should I use?  Healthwise

Hepatitis

• Hepatitis B and C: Should I be tested?  Healthwise
• Hepatitis B: Should I take antiviral medicine for chronic hepatitis B?  Healthwise
• Hepatitis C: Should I take antiviral medicine?  Healthwise

Hernia

• Inguinal hernia: Should I have surgery now, or should I wait?  Healthwise
• Umbilical hernia: Should my child have surgery?  Healthwise

Herniated disk

• Herniated Disc: Choosing the Right Treatment for You  Health Dialog
• Herniated disc: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

High Blood Pressure

• High blood pressure: Should I take medicine?  Healthwise

HIV Infection

• HIV: When should I start taking antiretroviral medicines for HIV infection?  Healthwise

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Hormone therapy: Is it right for you?  Mayo Clinic

Hysterectomy

• Hysterectomy: Should I also have my ovaries removed?  Healthwise

Infertility

• Fertility problems: Should I be tested?  Healthwise
• Fertility Problems: Should I Have a Tubal Procedure or In Vitro Fertilization?  Healthwise
• Infertility: Should I have treatment?  Healthwise

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Irritable bowel syndrome: Should I have tests for IBS symptoms?  Healthwise

Kidney Failure

• Kidney failure: What type of dialysis should I have?  Healthwise

Kidney Stones

• Kidney stones: Should I have lithotripsy to break up the stone?  Healthwise

Knee injuries and disorders

• ACL injury: Should I have knee surgery?  Healthwise
• Meniscus tear: Should I have a diagnostic test (MRI or arthroscopy)?  Healthwise
• Meniscus tear: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Laser Eye Surgery

• LASIK surgery: Is it right for you?  Mayo Clinic

Lung Cancer

• Stage IB, II, III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cisplatin plus Vinorelbine Chemotherapy after Surgery  American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: First-Line Chemotherapy; Second-Line Chemotherapy; Second- or Third-Line Chemotherapy with Erlotinib; Third-Line and Fourth-Line Chemotherapy: Decision Aid Set.  American Society of Clinical Oncology

Lung Transplantation

• When your lung function is getting worse... Should you be referred for a lung transplant? A decision aid for adults with cystic fibrosis  Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Mammography

• Breast cancer screening: When should I start having mammograms?  Healthwise

Mastectomy

• Prophylactic mastectomy: Breast cancer prevention for high-risk women  Mayo Clinic

Menopause

• Hysterectomy and oophorectomy: Should I use estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)?  Healthwise
• Making decisions: Should I use hormone replacement therapy? (HRT)  National Health and Medical Research Council
• Managing Menopause: Choosing treatments for menopause symptoms  Health Dialog
• Menopause: Should I use hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?  Healthwise

Multiple Sclerosis

• Multiple sclerosis: Should I start taking medicines for MS?  Healthwise

Nail Diseases

• Nail infection: Should I take antifungal pills?  Healthwise

Obesity

• Weight loss surgery: Is it right for you?  Health Dialog

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Should I take medicine for OCD?  Healthwise

Osteoarthritis

• Arthritis: Should I have hip replacement surgery?  Healthwise
• Arthritis: Should I have knee replacement surgery?  Healthwise
• Arthritis: Should I have shoulder replacement surgery?  Healthwise
• Choosing Pain Medicine For Osteoarthritis  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Treatment Choices for hip osteoarthritis  Health Dialog
• Treatment choices for Knee Osteoarthritis  Health Dialog

Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis Treatments That Help Prevent Broken Bones: A Guide for Women After Menopause  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Osteoporosis: Should I have a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) test?  Healthwise
• Osteoporosis: Should I take bisphosphonate medicines?  Healthwise
• Should I take alendronate (Fosamax®) for osteoporosis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take Etidronate (Didronel®) for osteoporosis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group
• Should I take risedronate (Actonel®) for osteoporosis?  Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group

Ovarian Cancer

• Ovarian cancer: Should I have my ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer?  Healthwise

Panic Disorder

• Panic disorder: Should I take medicine?  Healthwise

Pelvic Support Problems

• Pelvic organ prolapse: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Peripheral Arterial Disease

• Peripheral arterial disease: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery

• Breast implants: A choice between saline and silicone  Mayo Clinic

Pregnancy

• Is my baby alright? Screening in pregnancy  MIDIRS
• Miscarriage: Should I have treatment to complete a miscarriage?  Healthwise
• Multiple pregnancy: Should I consider a multifetal pregnancy reduction?  Healthwise
• Ultrasound scans -- what you need to know  MIDIRS

Premature Babies

• A decision aid for considering indomethacin prophylaxis vs. symptomatic treatment of PDA for extreme low birth weight infants  King Khalid Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh

Premenstrual Syndrome

• PMS: Should I try an SSRI medicine for my symptoms?  Healthwise

Prenatal Testing

• Pregnancy: Should I have amniocentesis?  Healthwise
• Pregnancy: Should I have an early fetal ultrasound?  Healthwise
• Pregnancy: Should I have CVS (chorionic villus sampling)?  Healthwise
• Pregnancy: Should I have the maternal serum triple or quadruple test?  Healthwise

Prostate Cancer

• Hormone Therapy: When the PSA rises after prostate cancer treatment  Health Dialog
• Is a PSA test right for you?  Health Dialog
• Prosdex: A PSA decision aid  University of Cardiff
• Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction with Finasteride: Discussion Guide for Doctor and Patient  American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide for African Americans  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Prostate cancer screening: Should I have a PSA test?  Healthwise
• Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test?  Mayo Clinic
• Prostate cancer: Should I have radiation or surgery for localized prostate cancer?  Healthwise
• Treating Prostate Cancer: A Guide for Men With Localized Prostate Cancer  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Treatment Choices for Men with Early-Stage Prostate Cancer  National Cancer Institute
• Treatment choices for prostate cancer  Health Dialog

Prostate Diseases

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Choosing Your Treatment  Health Dialog
• Enlarged prostate: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Enlarged prostate: Should I take medicine?  Healthwise

Psoriasis

• What can you do to manage your psoriasis? A decision aid for plaque psoriasis patients.  Windsor Clinical Research Inc.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines: A Guide for Adults  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Seniors' Health

• Healthy aging: Is it time to stop driving?  Healthwise
• Long term care: Early planning pays off  Mayo Clinic

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• STI Testing: Should I Get Tested For a Sexually Transmitted Infection?  Healthwise

Shingles

• Shingles: Should I get a shot to prevent shingles?  Healthwise

Shoulder injuries and disorders

• Rotator cuff problems: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Sinusitis

• Sinusitis: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Sinusitis: Should I take antibiotics?  Healthwise

Sleep Apnea

• Sleep apnea: Should I have a sleep study?  Healthwise
• Sleep apnea: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Sleep disorders

• Insomnia: Should I take sleeping pills?  Healthwise

Smoking cessation

• Quitting smoking: Should I use medicine?  Healthwise

Sore Throat

• Sore throat: Should I take antibiotics?  Healthwise

Spinal Diseases

• Scoliosis: Should I (or my child) have surgery?  Healthwise
• Spinal stenosis: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Spinal Stenosis: Treating low back and leg symptoms  Health Dialog

Stem cells

• Pregnancy: Should I bank my baby's umbilical cord blood?  Healthwise

Stroke

• Atrial fibrillation: Should I take an anticoagulant to to prevent stroke?  Healthwise
• Stroke: Should I have carotid endarterectomy?  Healthwise
• Stroke: Should I move my loved one into long-term care?  Healthwise

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

• TM disorder: Should I have surgery for jaw pain?  Healthwise

Testicular cancer

• Testicular cancer: Which treatment should I have for stage I nonseminoma testicular cancer after my surgery?  Healthwise
• Testicular cancer: Which treatment should I have for stage I seminoma testicular cancer after my surgery?  Healthwise

Thyroid Cancer

• Making Choices: Screening for Thyroid Disease  National Cancer Institute

Thyroid Diseases

• Hyperthyroidism: Should I use antithyroid medicine or radioactive iodine?  Healthwise

Toe Injuries and Disorders

• Bunions: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Hammer, claw, or mallet toe: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Toilet Training

• Bed-wetting: Should I do something about my child's bed-wetting?  Healthwise
• Bed-wetting: Should my child see a doctor?  Healthwise

Tonsils and Adenoids

• Tonsillitis: Should my child have a tonsillectomy?  Healthwise

Tooth disorders

• Wisdom teeth: Should I have my wisdom teeth removed?  Healthwise

Ulcerative colitis

• Ulcerative colitis: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Urinary Incontinence

• Stress incontinence: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise

Uterine Diseases

• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Should I use hormone therapy?  Healthwise
• Endometriosis: Should I have a hysterectomy and oophorectomy?  Healthwise
• Endometriosis: Should I use hormone therapy?  Healthwise
• Treatment choices for abnormal uterine bleeding  Health Dialog

Uterine Fibroids

• Treatment choices for uterine fibroids  Health Dialog
• Uterine fibroids: Should I have surgery?  Healthwise
• Uterine fibroids: Should I have uterine fibroid embolization?  Healthwise
• Uterine fibroids: Should I use GnRH-a therapy?  Healthwise

Vaginal Diseases

• Vaginal yeast infection: Should I treat it myself?  Healthwise

Varicose Veins

• Varicose veins: Should I have a surgical procedure?  Healthwise

Warts and Plantar Warts

• Warts: Should I treat warts?  Healthwise

Weight control

• Obesity: Should I have weight-loss surgery?  Healthwise
• Obesity: Should I take weight-loss medicine?  Healthwise
• Obesity: Should I use a diet plan to lose weight?  Healthwise
• Weight management: Should I use over-the-counter diet aids?  Healthwise