In DECIDE, how many alternatives must be considered before selecting the best approach?

• A. Three
• B. As few as needed
• C. As many as possible
• D. Five

Answer: (C)

In DECIDE, broad exploration of options is encouraged before choosing the best path. After you’ve defined the problem and set decision criteria, you should generate a wide range of possible approaches. Thinking in terms of as many alternatives as possible helps you surface options you might not initially consider and lets you compare them against your criteria, outcomes, costs, feasibility, and patient preferences. Limiting the search to just a few choices—whether three, five, or any small number—can cause you to miss superior solutions and miss important trade-offs. So, the best approach is to consider as many alternatives as possible.