Quality Care

 
 

Tips on How to Make Decisions

En Español | Decisions taken vary from person to person. Start by identifying your options, and establishing what is important for you.

There are three ways one can manage a disease:

  • The most aggressive approach is when you are being treated either with medication and/or medical procedures.

  • Active surveillance: This is done by getting regularly tested to monitor the progression of the disease. If the disease progresses, you address it with a treatment.

  • Watchful waiting: This approach is usually used by patients with advanced diseases or with multiple diseases. In this stage you don’t do any tests, but just wait and monitor the progression.

 

To make a decision one must take into consideration:

  • What is your health risk factor, consider your overall health condition.

  • What is your standard quality for life for sports, independence, and leisure?

  • Consider your personal preferences and needs. What is important for you?

  • What do you value more, an intact mind or to have physical independence?

  • Consider your family demands. Are there any family members that may be impacted by your decisions, or people that you need to take care of?

  • Consider your work demands. Can you take some time off?

 

Evaluate:

  • Your tolerance risk.

  • The treatment options.

  •  Its risks and expected outcomes of different treatments. 

  • Consider the evidence you have compiled in the context of your principles, preferences, and values.

 

Finally, evaluate among the different options: 

  • What was the average outcome for each treatment?

  • What is the quality of life for those who have undergone these treatments?

Resources

Best Science Medicine Podcast

Impartial evaluation of different treatments for a specific condition, made by doctors that care for the patient, and not on the industry benefits.

Apps:

The Decision Aid App