Developing a conceptual map of patient information needs in prostate cancer screening

As the prevalence of shared decision-making increases as part of the patient-clinician relationship, patient needs for information become critical aspects of preventative care and treatment decisions. It has been shown that patients who have relevant information about healthcare options make choices and decisions which are more consistent with their personal values. This is especially useful when considering the various options regarding prostate cancer screening, (PCS). PCS remains extremely controversial given the uncertainty and lack of conclusive scientific evidence regarding the consequences of having the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. It is vital that men are fully informed of the possible ramifications of the PSA test. The purpose of this study was to identify the information needs of male patients in PCS situations in primary care medical encounters. A deductive qualitative analysis was applied to uncover reoccurring themes and critical information presented by the subjects during conversations regarding PCS. From this analysis, a preliminary conceptual map was created in order to identify and understand the levels of information needed for patients to make informed PCS decisions. Future use and development of this map may improve PCS decisions by providing a structural approach to understanding the primary issues and implications of PCS for both the patient and clinician.