Increased knowledge
Two trials reported on patient knowledge (Man-Son-Hing 1999;Thomson 2007). Thomson (Thomson 2007) used an extension of the decision conflict scale (O’Connor 1995) and found that although knowledge scores after the intervention had improved slightly, by three-month follow-up they had returned to pre-intervention levels. There was no significant difference between the decision aid and guidelines groups at any point.The second trial used a non-validated scale and demonstrated that patients in the decision aid group had significantly greater knowledge of treatment-related information: aspirin-related difference
15.9 (95%CI 4.6 to 27.2, P < 0.001); warfarin-related 14.9 (95% CI 4.6 to 25.2, P < 0.001) than those in the usual care group(Man-Son-Hing 1999).
Patient satisfaction
One trial using a decision aid intervention reported patient satisfaction as an outcome (Man-Son-Hing 1999). They found that the use of the decision aid did not significantly affect patients’satisfaction with their physician consultations.