Dr. Varun Puri: decision analysis works to compare therapies when randomized clinical trials cannot

Decision making in clinical practice is often based on a series of careful analyses of benefits and harms associated with different treatment options. These decisions, usually made under competing priorities, limited resources and information, are critical as they would directly influence patients’ long-term consequences. Decision analysis is thus frequently used by clinicians who apply evidence-based medicine to achieve the best possible decision given a specific clinical situation.