Decisions were defined as ‘‘a verbalised choice or deferment of
choice that could alter the patient’s current or planned manage-
ment.’’ This was based on Braddock’s original definition, but adapted
to include deferment as a valid outcome [2,7,8]. Care was taken to
distinguish between decision-making and information giving.
Information giving occurred when women asked a question and
the doctor responded with advice, but there was no commitment to
a particular course of action and hence a decision was not made.