Using Internet technologies to improve and simplify counseling about menopause: The WISDOM website

Decision support tools can more rationally use available resources by shifting responsibilities away from those least able to perform them towards those most appropriate to perform them. The Internet presents new opportunities for delivering and disseminating individualized decision support tools that can help with menopausal counseling. A web-based decision support tool, Women's Interactive System about Decision On Menopause (WISDOM), was designed to improve the quality of treatment decisions around menopause and HT by providing individualized information about the impact of menopausal treatments on symptoms and risks. Preliminary trial results suggest a positive impact on clinicians and patients. The unique challenges and opportunities in developing and testing web-based decision support tools are discussed.