High-quality patient decision aids are developed using a systematic process and explicit guidelines. Some steps include:

1. Determining the decision making needs of potential users
2. Conducting a needs assessments to identify users’ perceptions and the resources needed to make and/or implement the decision
3. Creating the patient decision aid based on a synthesis of evidence
4. Inviting a panel of external experts to review the decision aid Inviting end users to evaluate the patient decision aid