Healthwise Decision Aids
Decision Aids help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important for many health problems. Each Decision Point provides an overview of the issues involved in a decision and focuses attention on the information that is most helpful to people as they work with their doctors to make the decision.
Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Managing these health conditions means following a set of actions to better control their effect on the person and to prevent long-term problems.
Please browse the list below to find Decision Aids of particular interest to you. Decision Points and Actionsets also can be found within their related topics throughout the Library.
Abnormal Pap Test
What tests should I have next for minor cervical cell changes classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US)?
Acne Vulgaris
Should I see my doctor for acne?
Should I take Accutane for severe acne?
Acute Bronchitis
Should I take antibiotics for acute bronchitis?
Allergic Rhinitis
Should I take allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma?
Allergies to Insect Stings
Should I have allergy shots for allergies to insect stings?
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood
Making the decision about the maternal serum triple test (triple screen)
Amniocentesis
Should I have an amniocentesis?
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
Should I have surgery for an anterior cruciate Injuries ligament (ACL) injury?
Asthma in Children
Making the decision about allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma
Asthma in Teens and Adults
Making the decision about allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Should my child take medications for ADHD?
Bedwetting (Primary Nocturnal Enuresis)
Should I schedule a doctor visit to discuss my child's bed-wetting?
Should I treat my child's bed-wetting?
Birth Control
Which birth control method should I use?
Blocked Tear Ducts
Should my baby have a probing procedure to open a blocked tear duct?
Breast Cancer
Making the decision about surgery to treat breast cancer
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Making the decision about surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome
Circumcision
Should I have my son circumcised?
Cluster Headaches
Should I have imaging tests to evaluate my headaches?
Complementary Medicine
Should I use complementary medicine?
Depression
Should I take medications to treat depression?
Depression in Childhood and Adolescence
Should my child take medications to treat depression?
Ear Infections (Otitis Media)
Should I give my child antibiotics for an ear infection?
Should I have my child treated for chronic fluid behind the eardrum?
Meniscus Tear
Should I have MRI or arthroscopy to diagnose a possible torn meniscus?
Should I have surgery for my torn meniscus?
Migraine Headaches
Should I take a prophylactic antimigraine medication?
Miscarriage
Should I have medical, surgical, or no treatment to complete a miscarriage?
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
Should I have refractive surgery for nearsightedness?
Obesity
Should I have surgery to treat obesity?
Should I use prescription medications to treat obesity?
Pregnancy
Should I have an amniocentesis?
Should I have an early fetal ultrasound?
Should I have the maternal serum triple test (triple screen)?
Premature Infant
How can I make informed decisions about my extremely premature infant?
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Making the decision about treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Scoliosis
Should I (or my child) have surgery for scoliosis?
Sleep Apnea
Should I have a sleep study to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea?
Should I have surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea?
Spina Bifida
Making the decision about the maternal serum triple test (triple screen)
Umbilical Hernia in Children
Should my child have surgery for an umbilical hernia?
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Making the decision about trying a trial of labor after having a cesarean delivery
Vaginal Yeast Infections
Should I self-treat a vaginal yeast infection with a nonprescription medication?
Wisdom Tooth Problems
Should I have a wisdom tooth removed?
Alcohol Use
How to stop drinking alcohol on your own
Recognizing and dealing with teen substance use
Helping a person get treatment for an alcohol use problem
Allergies to Insect Stings
Using an epinephrine injection for a systemic allergic reaction
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
Pretreatment exercises for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
Ankle Sprain
Applying a compression wrap for a sprained ankle
Rehabilitation exercises for ankle sprain
Asthma
Using an asthma action plan
Using a metered dose inhaler correctly
Identifying asthma triggers
Peak flow monitoring
Atopic Dermatitis
Skin care for atopic dermatitis
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Helping your child develop a healthy self-esteem
Helping your child with ADHD accomplish tasks at home
How to help your child with ADHD be successful in school
Basic Dental Care
Effective tooth brushing and flossing
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Balancing exercises for vertigo
Taking safety precautions for vertigo
Breast Feeding
How to breast-feed
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome at the keyboard
Chickenpox
How to control itching from the chickenpox rash
Croup
Managing an episode of croup
Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
Carbohydrate counting for Type 1 diabetes
Dealing with low blood sugar when your child takes insulin
Giving an insulin injection to a child with diabetes
Home blood sugar monitoring for children with diabetes
Preventing high blood sugar emergencies in children with diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Carbohydrate counting for children with diabetes
Dealing with low blood sugar in children taking only oral medication for diabetes
Dealing with low blood sugar when your child takes insulin
Giving an insulin injection to a child with diabetes
Home blood sugar monitoring for children with diabetes
Preventing high blood sugar emergencies in children with diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
Home blood sugar monitoring
Gestational Diabetes
Carbohydrate counting when you have gestational diabetes
Dealing with low blood sugar when you have gestational diabetes
Home blood sugar monitoring when you have gestational diabetes
Preparing and giving an insulin injection when you have gestational diabetes
Using a food guide when you have gestational diabetes
Grief & Grieving
Helping children who are grieving
Helping older adults who are grieving
Helping teens who are grieving
Managing your feelings of grief
Pregnancy
Managing morning sickness
Managing postpartum depression
