Resources
Decision Support Tool Gallery
This page includes a list of decision support tools created by our group. The tools are organized across the cancer care continuum: prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship. Each tool has photos slideshow that you can browse to see screenshots of the tool. Choose a category below.
Medications to Prevent Breast Cancer
Medications to Prevent Breast Cancer
Women at high risk of breast cancer can benefit from preventive therapy, yet uptake is low. Before a visit with a health care provider, patients watch a video that teaches them about the benefits and harms of medications like tamoxifen and raloxifene to prevent breast cancer. It features real patients sharing their experience with preventive therapy. During the visit, a website allows the health care provider to give more personalized information to the patient about their risk of breast cancer with and without preventive therapy.
Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment
Principal Investigators: Abenaa Brewster, M.D., M.H.S., and Therese B. Bevers, M.D., FAAFP
Click here to see more about Medications to Prevent Breast Cancer
Lung Cancer Screening: Is It Right for Me?
Lung cancer screening can save lives through early detection and treatment. However, lung cancer screening can lead to harms like false positives, radiation exposure and overdiagnosis. This video decision aid teaches patients about the potential benefits and harms of lung cancer screening. It is made to be watched before a visit with a health care provider to discuss lung cancer screening.
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Principal Investigator: Robert J. Volk, Ph.D.
Click here to see more about Lung Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening Shared Decision Making Toolkit
Primary care clinicians need support to implement new guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) about colorectal cancer screening. The ACS updated its guideline about colorectal cancer screening. This suite of downloadable decision support tools for primary care providers and patients encourages patients to complete and adhere to colorectal cancer screening based on updated guidelines.
Sponsor: American Cancer Society
Principal Investigator: Robert J. Volk, Ph.D.
Click here to see more about Colorectal Cancer Screening
Maintenance Therapy: A Decision Aid for Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Maintenance therapy may prevent or delay cancer recurrence in women with advanced ovarian cancer. However, it can cause troublesome side effects and it may not lengthen a patient’s life. This publicly-available decision aid teaches women about the benefits and harms of maintenance therapy so they can make an informed decision with their health care provider.
Sponsor: AstraZeneca
Principal Investigator: Larissa Meyer, M.D., M.P.H., FACOG, FACS
Click here to see more about Maintenance Therapy
Breast Cancer Treatment Decision Support
Adding chemotherapy to other treatments like surgery and radiation may not extend life expectancy for older women with early stage breast cancer. Older people are also at higher risk of harmful side effects of chemotherapy. This decision aid teaches women about the benefits and harms of chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. It also allows health care providers to estimate a person’s risk of side effects and life expectancy. Together, the patient and provider can decide if the benefits of chemotherapy outweigh the harms.
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute
Principal Investigator: Meghan Karuturi, M.D., M.Sc.
Click here to see more about Breast Cancer Treatment Decision Support
MTC Educate: A Medullary Thyroid Cancer Education Website
Patients with medullary thyroid cancer face many treatment decisions during the course of their disease. This publicly available website teaches patients about treatment options and helps them think about which treatment they prefer. Together with their health care providers, patients can make informed treatment decisions.
Sponsor: MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant
Principal Investigators: Elizabeth Grubbs, M.D., M.S., and Mimi Hu, M.D.
Click here to see more about MTC Educate
Considering Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
Following mastectomy, women face decisions about whether, when, and/or what method of breast reconstruction is right for them. Before a visit with a reconstructive surgeon, patients watch a video about the different options for reconstruction. Patients also complete a workbook that helps them clarify their preferences so they can make an informed decision at the visit with their surgeon.
Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment
Principal Investigator: Gregory Reece, M.D., FACS