Option Grid™ decision aids are brief, easy-to-read tools that help patients and providers compare healthcare options. Content is developed using the most current evidence available and is focused on the questions patients most frequently ask when they need to make preference-sensitive decisions. Providers can select two to three options to compare, and for select topics, fill in patient-specific data to customize the grid.
The following Option Grid decision aids are available to the public.
Option Grids decision aids highlighted in bold are certified by the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Providers can share customized Option Grid decision aids with patients electronically, or they can print them during the encounter. Providers are able to easily document the decision aids with a prepopulated EMR note.
Empowers Patients: Helps patients share what matters most to them
Easy to Read: Uses patient-friendly language
Evidence-Based: Uses highest quality clinical evidence available
Patient-Tested: Co-developed with patients to make sure the patient voice is heard
Trustworthy: Developed without conflicts of interest
Simple to Use: Can be used in clinical visits without adding extra time
Meets Requirements: Meets all shared decision-making policy requirements and incentives
*Read the research below.
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth College manages academic research initiatives focused on patient engagement and shared decision making and how Option Grid decision aids impact healthcare delivery. If you are interested in research initiatives, please email Glyn Elwyn, MD, MSc, FRCGP, PhD, Professor, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth College at glynelwyn@gmail.com or Marie-Anne Durand, BSc, MSc, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol Assistant Professor, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Dartmouth College at Marie-Anne.Durand@dartmouth.edu.
Not missing the opportunity: Improving depression screening and follow-up in a multicultural community. Schaeffer AM, Jolles D. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety (2018). doi:10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.06
Online, Interactive Option Grid Patient Decision Aids and their Effect on User Preferences. Scalia P, Durand M.A, Kremer J, et al. Medical Decision Making (2017). doi:10.1177/0272989X17734538
Supporting Shared Decision-making for Children's Complex Behavioral Problems: Development and User Testing of an Option Grid™ Decision Aid ― Barnett ER, Boucher EA, Daviss WB, et al. Community Mental Health J (2017). doi:10.1007/z10597-017-0136-5
Working with interpreters: the challenges of introducing Option Grid™ patient decision aids. ― Wood F, Phillips K, Edwards A, Elwyn G. Patient Educ Couns. 2016. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.09.016
Trustworthy patient decision aids: a qualitative analysis addressing the risk of competing interests. ― Elwyn G, Dannenberg M, Blaine A, et al. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e012562. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2016- 012562
Much clearer with pictures: using community-based participatory research to design and test a Picture Option Grid for underserved patients with breast cancer. ― Durand MA, Alam S, Grande SW, Elwyn G. BMJ Open. 2016:6(2) DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010008
Shared Decision Making: A Model for Clinical Practice. ― Elwyn G, Frosch D, Thomson R, Joseph-Williams N, Lloyd A, Kinnersley P, Cording E, Tomson D, Dodd C, Rollnick S, Edwards A, Barry M. J Gen Intern Med. 2012:27(10);1361-1367. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-012-2077-6
Shared decision making in a multidisciplinary head and neck cancer team: a case study of developing Option Grids. ― Elwyn G, Lloyd A, Joseph-Williams A, Beasley A, Tomkinson A. The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine. 2012:2(3):421-426. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5750/ijpcm.v2i3.262.
Option Grids: Shared decision making made easier. ― Elwyn G, Lloyd A, Joseph-Williams N, Cording E, Thomson R, Durand MA, Edwards A. Patient Education and Counseling. 2013:90(2);207–212. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.06.036
Supporting shared decision making using an Option Grid for osteoarthritis of the knee in an interface musculoskeletal clinic: a stepped wedge trial. ― Elwyn G, Pickles T, Edwards A, Kinsey K, Brain K, Newcombe RG, Firth J, Marrin K, Nye A, Wood F. Patient Education and Counseling. 2016:99(4);571-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.10.011
Using Option Grids: steps toward shared decision-making for neonatal circumcision. ― Fay M, Grande SW, Donnelly K, Elwyn G. Patient Education and Counseling. 2015:In Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.08.025
Option grids: an idea whose time has come? ―Greenhalgh T. The British Journal of General Practice. 2013:63(608);147. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp13X664315.
Patchy 'coherence': using normalization process theory to evaluate a multi-faceted shared decision making implementation program (MAGIC). ―Lloyd A, Joseph-Williams N, Edwards A, Rix A, Elwyn G. Implementation Science. 2013:8;102. DOI:10.1186/1748-5908-8-102.
Fast and frugal tools for shared decision-making: How to develop Option Grids. ― Marrin K, Brain K, Durand M-A, Edwards A, Lloyd A, Thomas C, Elwyn G. European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. 2013:1(1);240-245. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5750/ejpch.v1i1.657
Option Grids to facilitate shared decision making for patients with Osteoarthritis of the knee: protocol for a single site, efficacy trial. ― Marrin K, Wood F, Firth J, Kinsey K, Edwards A, Brain K E, … Elwyn G. BMC Health Services Research. 2014:14(1),160. DOI:10.1186/1472-6963-14-160
Shared decision-making in epilepsy management. ― Pickrell WO, Elwyn G, Smith PE. Epilepsy Behavior. 2015:S1525-5050(15)00040-2. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.033
Clinicians' perceptions of digital vs. paper-based decision support interventions. ― Politi MC, Adsul P, Kuzemchak MD, Zeuner R, Frosch DL. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2015:21;175-179. DOI: 10.1111/jep.12269
Using an Option Grid in shared decision making. ― Seal RP, Kynaston J, Elwyn G, Smith PEM. Practical Neurology. 2014:14:54-56. DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2013-000806
Shared decision making: really putting patients at the centre of healthcare. ― Stiggelbout AM, Van der Weijden T, De Wit MPT, Frosch D, Légaré F, Montori VM, Trevena L, Elwyn G. BMJ. 2012:344:e256. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e256
Assessing Option Grid® practicability and feasibility for facilitating shared decision making: An exploratory study. ― Tsulukidze M, Grande SW, Gionfriddo MR. Patient Education and Counseling. 2015:In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.03.013