A randomized trial comparing web-based decision aids on prostate cancer knowledge for African-American men

Few decision aids are tailored for African-American men. We sought to determine if web-based decision aids increased knowledge of prostate cancer screening among African men.

This postintervention, quasiexperimental research measured knowledge of prostate cancer screening among African-American men following receipt of 1 of 2 web-based decision aids: enhanced or usual care. Men ages 40-65 were recruited at the annual convention of the Prince Hall Masons in the summer of 2007, which was attended by 1170 masons. The primary outcome was knowledge of prostate cancer screening.

There were 87 participants in the sample with a mean age of 52 years (standard deviation = 6.9). Forty-six masons were randomized to the enhanced decision aid, and 41 masons were randomized to the usual care decision aid. Knowledge scores were statistically significantly higher among the men receiving the enhanced decision aid compared to the usual care decision aid after simultaneously adjusting for age, educational level, marital status, family history, previous prostate specific antigen test and digital rectal exam (p = 0.01).

We found evidence that the enhanced web decision aid was significantly more effective than the usual care decision aid in promoting knowledge of the benefits, limitations and risks of prostate cancer screening. Web-based sites may be effective in facilitating discussions about screening between patients and health care providers.