Does a decision aid improve informed choice in mammography screening? Study protocol for a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Decision Science

Background:

• Informed decision-making is crucial for women invited to the German mammography screening program.
• Currently, no systematically evaluated decision aid exists for first-time invitees.
• This gap highlights the need for interventions to support informed choices regarding mammography screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed decision aid for first-time mammography screening invitees in Germany.
• To assess the impact of the decision aid on informed choice, knowledge, and attitudes towards screening.
• To determine if the decision aid can improve the quality of decisions regarding mammography screening participation.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 7400 women aged 50 years from Westfalen-Lippe, Germany.
• Participants were randomized to receive either the decision aid or usual care (standard leaflet).
• Data collected online at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up, measuring informed choice and its components.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: informed choice.
• Secondary outcomes: knowledge, attitude clarity, decision implementation, decisional conflict, and decision regret.
• Exploration of factors influencing informed choice, including eHealth literacy and perceived behavioral control.

Conclusions:

• The study evaluates a decision aid designed to enhance informed choice in mammography screening.
• If effective, the decision aid will be publicly accessible and recommended for first-time invitees.
• Potential for long-term improvement in informed decision-making for women participating in mammography screening.