A decision aid for teaching limitations of prostate cancer screening

There is minimal research regarding men's knowledge of the limitations of prostate cancer screening. This study measured knowledge of prostate cancer screening based on exposure to one of two decision aids that were related to prostate cancer screening (enhanced versus usual care). The sample consisted primarily of low income (54%) African-American men (81%) (n=230). The enhanced decision aid was compared against the usual care decision aid that was developed by the American Cancer Society. The enhanced decision aid was associated with higher post-test knowledge scores, but statistically significant differences were observed only in the men who reported having had a previous DRE (p = 0.013) in the multivariable analyses. All the men were screened, regardless of which decision aid they received. This study highlights the impact of previous screening on education of the limitations of prostate screening, and challenges the assumption that increased knowledge of the limitations of prostate cancer screening will lead to decreased screening.