Astmavalikut

Astmavalikut is a term encountered in some healthcare informatics and medical education discussions to describe a structured approach for presenting and comparing asthma treatment options and enabling patient choice. The word appears to blend references to asthma with a suffix meaning options or choices in several Nordic and Baltic languages, though there is no single agreed-upon definition or origin.

Conceptually, astmavalikut envisions decision aids that present a range of treatment options—such as inhaled corticosteroids, combination therapies, biologics for severe asthma, and non-pharmacologic strategies—in clear, lay terms. Information provided typically covers expected benefits, risks, side effects, and costs, alongside practical considerations like inhaler technique and adherence. A core goal is to elicit patient goals, values, and preferences and to document these preferences to support shared decision making in routine care.

Origins and usage of the term are informal and vary by context. It is not a standardized framework and may appear in pilot studies, educational materials, or speculative discussions rather than as an established clinical protocol. As such, implementations of astmavalikut can differ in emphasis, ranging from purely informational tools to integrated decision-support features within electronic health records or patient portals.

Applications of the concept lie in clinical practice, patient education, and health IT design, with an emphasis on improving decision quality, patient understanding, and satisfaction with treatment choices. Criticism often centers on potential information overload for patients, time constraints for clinicians, and variability in how preferences are elicited and acted upon.

See also: shared decision making, patient decision aids, health information technology.