Table 1 Definitions and key characteristics of decision and behaviour support interventions

'Decision support interventions help people think about choices they face; they describe where and why choice exists, in short, conditions of dual equipoise; they provide information about options, including, where reasonable, the option of taking no action. These interventions help people to deliberate, independently or in collaboration with others, about options by considering relevant attributes; they support people to forecast how they might feel about short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes that have relevant consequences, in ways that help the process of constructing preferences and eventual decision making appropriate to their individual situation'

'behavioural support interventions describe, justify, and recommend actions that, over time, lead to predictable outcomes over short, intermediate, and long-term timeframes, and that have relevant and important consequences for those who are considering behaviour' change'.

Key characteristics

Describe a decision where there is dual equipoise.

Describe the consequences (risks) of different behaviours/actions.

Options are clearly delineated.

Options, if present, are ranked.

Option attributes are clearly delineated and compared.

Describe a range of safe (risk reducing) behaviours/range of consequences of unsafe (risk enhancing) behaviours.

Intermediate and long-term outcomes described, using social, psychological, and biological consequences, and decision-making processes and interventions are provided at cross-road points.

Intervention involves interaction, data collection, and feedback over time to support behaviour modification.

A recommendation (decision or action) is avoided.

A recommendation is generated, albeit negotiated.