Glossary
Values Clarification
What is values clarification?
Values clarification is a process for examining what matters to someone in a decision. Rankings, comparisons, writing, and discussion can make priorities and trade-offs more explicit.
Examples of values clarification
- Ranking values: Compare values and discuss which takes priority when they conflict.
- Journaling: Write about a recent difficult choice and the concerns behind it.
- Decision scenarios: Compare possible actions and what each would serve or sacrifice.
- Guided discussion: Explore priorities with another person and examine where their interpretation differs.
What the evidence shows
A systematic review of explicit values-clarification methods in patient decision aids covered randomized comparisons described in 33 articles. On average, the methods reduced choices that conflicted with stated values and reduced decisional conflict.
Results varied across methods and studies, with substantial heterogeneity in some analyses. This supports a claim about health decision support, not every possible reflection exercise.
Why it matters
A worksheet might clarify the importance of convenience, benefit, and burden. The decision still needs accurate information about the options. Clear priorities cannot correct false assumptions about what a choice will do.