Using decision aids in community-based primary care: a theory-driven evaluation with ethnically diverse patients

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Patient Decision Making
• Cancer Screening

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) is crucial for cancer screening.
• Patient understanding of screening options influences decision-making.
• Diverse populations require tailored decision support tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of informational brochures and video decision aids on patient intentions for SDM in cancer screening.
• To identify predictors of SDM engagement in a racially diverse patient sample.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment from 13 primary care practices in diverse, economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• Theory-based questionnaires assessed attitudes, social norms, self-efficacy, and intentions pre-consultation.
• Post-questionnaires evaluated screening decisions and knowledge.

Main Results:

• Video decision aids improved knowledge and preference for autonomous decision-making.
• Both aids decreased perceived social norms, self-efficacy, and intentions for physician collaboration.
• Patients declining screening showed lower intentions for physician collaboration and less discussion.

Conclusions:

• Patients opting against cancer screening were less likely to discuss decisions with physicians.
• Video decision aids promoted a stronger tendency toward autonomous decision-making compared to brochures.