Development and validation of a personalized, web-based decision aid for lung cancer screening using mixed methods: a...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Public Health
• Health Communication

Background:

• Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can reduce lung cancer mortality.
• Informed decisions require understanding personal risk, screening harms/benefits, and individual values.
• Effective decision support is crucial for lung cancer screening participants.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a web-based decision aid for lung cancer screening.
• Ensure the aid meets International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS v4.0).
• Assist patients in making informed decisions about screening.

Main Methods:

• Prototype usability testing with 10 potential screening participants (alpha testing).
• Feedback from public health and health risk communication experts.
• Quasi-experimental before-after study with 60 participants (beta testing) assessing knowledge, risk perception, decisional conflict, and acceptability via electronic survey.
• Focus groups for further usability insights.

Main Results:

• Alpha testing of the prototype is complete.
• Beta testing is ongoing, with 60 participants completing the before-after study as of December 7, 2014.
• Anticipated completion of results by January 31, 2015, and qualitative data analysis by May 31, 2015.

Conclusions:

• A web-based, interactive decision aid is hypothesized to improve knowledge and reduce decisional conflict.
• The aid aims to enhance concordance between patient preferences and screening guidelines.
• Personalized, graphical, and contextual information on LDCT screening benefits and harms is key.