Best Case/Worst Case
Bottom line: An evidence-based tool that has demonstrated provider and patient-centered utility across multiple clinical scenarios. Data supports the use of these tools in helping clinicians communicate with their patients and in improving patient understanding of illness processes, including expectations of treatment and assistance in facilitating discussions.
Personal use: I am biased, in that I received training in this tool from the authors during fellowship. While not perfect for all of my patients or their families, I have found that this works really well in cases where surrogate-decision making is required without input from the patient (sedated, TBI, encephalopathic, etc) but requires time from a provider to make the diagram. I find it absolutely necessary to perform the recommendation component, because without this the surrogates are often left feeling helpless.
References:
Kruser, Jacqueline M., et al. "“Best case/worst case”: training surgeons to use a novel communication tool for high-risk acute surgical problems." Journal of pain and symptom management 53.4 (2017): 711-719.
Zimmermann, Christopher J., et al. "Best case/worst case ICU: Using clinician input to adapt a communication tool to assist older trauma patients with poor prognosis." Journal of the American College of Surgeons 229.4 (2019): S289.
Zimmermann, Christopher J., et al. "Opportunities to improve shared decision making in dialysis decisions for older adults with life-limiting kidney disease: a pilot study." Journal of palliative medicine 23.5 (2020): 627-634.