Potential cost-effectiveness for using patient decision aids to guide osteoporosis treatment

We use a model to predict whether using a patient
decision aid in patients considering bisphosphonate therapy
would be a good use of health resources. We found that if
the decision aid improved adherence, and only marginally
increased time physicians needed with their patients, then
the decision-aid would be cost-effective.
Introduction Oral bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce
the risk of osteoporotic fracture. Adherence is crucial
but suboptimal. A recent study suggests that a patient decision
aid, which facilitates shared decision-making, could be effective
in increasing adherence to bisphosphonates. But decision
aids come at a cost in terms of additional time spent with
physicians. This study considers the emerging evidence on
the role of patient decision aids in improving adherence to
bisphosphonates and their potential costs to inform future
decision-making and research priorities.