Purpose: To elicit providers' perceptions of how well informed their patients are and determine whether they use educational materials with their patients. Methods: A multidisciplinary group of providers (including primary care, specialists, and nurses) were surveyed about 14 common medical decisions. Providers completed up to two surveys for different decisions. Providers were asked about the use of different types of educational materials and their perceptions of how informed their patients are prior to making that decision. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to determine the influence of provider characteristics: age (<42, 42-51, >52), gender, type of provider (MDs vs. nurses and other non-MDs), and volume (low vs. high >50 cases/year) on the use of educational materials and the likelihood of reporting that their patients were well informed. Results: We received 273 responses from 164 providers (response rate 164/213 (77%)). Overall, 68% gave educational materials to patients before decisions. The use varied widely by decision, from 90% (menopause) to 32% (herniated disc). A minority of providers (32%) reported that their patients were very well informed before making these decisions. This also varied by decision, from 50% (breast reconstruction) to 4% (depression and osteoarthritis of knee). Providers who were older (42-51 years (OR 0.32 95%CI(.149, .675) p=0.003), >51 years (OR 0.243 95%CI(.110, .533), p=0.000), female (OR 0.41 95%CI(.208, .790), p=0.008), and who had high volume (OR 0.45 95%CI(.239, .832) p=0.011) were less likely to use educational materials. The type of provider was not associated with use of materials. Providers who saw a high volume of patients (OR 2.01 95%CI(1.092, 3.709) p=0.025) and nurses (OR 2.67 95%CI(1.455, 4.963) were more likely to report that their patients were very well informed. Age, gender, and use of educational materials were not associated with reports of being well-informed. Conclusion: The majority of providers give out educational materials, yet most did not feel that their patients were very well informed. There is a need for better educational materials, including decision aids, for these conditions.