Decision analysis in patient care

To help patients to fully participate In shared decision making Is becoming an important goal in clinical practice and one which is receiving Increasi ng attention In terms of the requisite skills and technological development . We discuss the potential application of decision analysis-a specific tech nology that has been Introduced Into clinical practice but to date only wit hin research contexts-and examine the usefulness and feasibility of the tec hnique for patients, particularly In settings where clinical presentations are diverse and characterised by uncertainty.