PADA makes it easy to comply with the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) by providing information and cues throughout the decision aid development process.

International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS)

  • IPDAS consists of a list of standards and specifications with which decision aids must comply, to guarantee their consistent quality from one country to another and minimize the risk of such tools creating bias in patient decisions. In other words, these standards are designed to ensure that decision aids promote informed healthcare decisions that are based on the best available scientific data and that reflect patient preferences and values.
  • These standards are based on 13 reviews of evidence published in 2021 in the journal Medical Decision Making (see resources below).

The IPDAS Collaboration

The goal of the IPDAS Collaboration is to develop a set of international standards for decision aids. It brings together research teams, professionals, and patients from around the world.

The IPDAS Collaboration's role is to define the standards and specifications with which decision aids must comply, in order to ensure consistent quality.

IPDAS List

The most recent version of IPDAS dates from 2013, and includes 44 standards, divided into three categories:

  • Qualifying criteria enable decision aids to be identified. These criteria must all be met for a tool to be considered a "decision aid."
  • Certifying criteria include all the elements essential to decision aid certification. These are required to prevent any prejudice or bias in decision making.
  • Quality criteria enhance the decision-making experience. While they are desirable (since they improve the user experience), their absence does not bias the decision.

    • Download the document here