Randomized Trial of a Patient Decision Aid for Choice of Surgical Treatment for Breast Cancer

Vivek Goel, Carol A. Sawka, Elaine C. Thiel, Elaine H. Gort and Annette M. O’Connor
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Vivek Goel: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Departments of Health Administration
Carol A. Sawka: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Departments of Medicine
Elaine C. Thiel: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto
Elaine H. Gort: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto
Annette M. O’Connor: University of Toronto, Toronto; and University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Medical Decision Making, 2001, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: A decision aid for the surgical treatment of early breast cancer was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The decision aid, a tape and workbook, includes explicit presentation of probabilities, photographs and graphics, and a values clarification exercise. Community surgeons were randomized to use the decision aid or a control pamphlet. Patients completed a questionnaire prior to using the decision aid, after reviewing it but prior to surgery, and 6 months after enrollment. There was no difference in anxiety, knowledge, or decisional regret across the 2 groups. There was a nonsignificant trend toward lower decisional conflict in the decision aid group. A subgroup of women who were initially leaning toward mastectomy or were unsure had lower decisional conflict. Although the decision aid had minimal impact on the main study outcomes, a subgroup may have benefited. Such subgroups should be identified, and appropriate decision support interventions should be developed and evaluated.

Keywords: decision aid; breast cancer surgery; randomized controlled trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:21:y:2001:i:1:p:1-6

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X0102100101

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