Transforming PCI Informed Consent Into an Evidence-based Decision-making Tool

Study Summary

Using individualized patient estimates of procedural risks and benefits, this project will transform the process of informed consent for coronary angioplasty into a dynamic educational tool for patients and physicians and is a direct response to the Institute of Medicine's call for a more evidence-based, efficient, patient-centered healthcare system. It is hypothesized that patients will develop a greater understanding of their individual risks and benefits from PCI, will be empowered to more actively engage in shared decision-making, as well as have improved awareness of their responsibility to adhere to dual anti-platelet therapy if treated with a drug eluting stent (risks for target vessel revascularization with bare metal and drug eluting stents are also provided in the new consent form). It is also anticipated that physicians, in turn, will use these individualized estimates to better discriminate between risks and benefits among different bleeding avoidance therapies so as to improve the safety and cost-effectiveness of PCI.