Improving informed consent to chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial of written information versus an...

This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine whether an interactive CD-ROM improved cancer patients' recall of chemotherapy treatment information over standard written information, and whether demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors better predicted recall than this format of delivery.

One-hundred-and-one new patients about to commence chemotherapy were randomized to receive written information or a CD-ROM containing treatment information before giving informed consent. Patients' recall, concentration, short-term memory, reading comprehension, anxiety, depression, and coping styles were assessed with standardized measures pre-treatment. Seventy-seven patients completed tests for recall of treatment information before their second chemotherapy session.

Intention-to-treat analyses indicated no significant differences between the written information and CD-ROM groups across recall questions about number of drugs received (p=.43), treatment length (p=.23), and treatment goal (p=.69). Binary logistic regressions indicated that for groups combined different variables predicted each of the recall questions.

An interactive CD-ROM did not improve cancer patients' recall of treatment information enough to warrant changes in consent procedures.

Different variables predicted recall of different treatment aspects highlighting the complex nature of attempting to improve patient recall. Attending to the effect of depression on patient knowledge and understanding appears paramount.