PE is particularly relevant when treatment-associated risks and outcomes are difficult to predict [1–3]. In such cases, decisions are ‘preference sensitive’ because patients informed of risks and benefits might change their treatment preference . The preference-sensitive concept is germane to the context of non-drug technologies where evidence of the safety and effectiveness of some implantable cardiovascular or orthopaedic medical devices is limited [13, 14], and they have been associated with morbidity and mortality [15, 16]. Medical devices have been defined as non-drug technologies or instruments vital to the prevention, diagnosis, cure or treatment of a disease or abnormal physical condition . Examples of lower risk devices are wheel chairs and endoscopes, and examples of higher risk devices are joint or cardiovascular implants that require invasive procedures.