Improving Shared Decision Making in Latino Men With Prostate Cancer: A Thematic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Medical Decision Making
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Digitally mediated decision aids assist patients in medical decision-making.
• Limited research exists on decision-support preferences among non-English-speaking, limited-literacy Latino men.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare health information seeking, presentation preferences, and digital decision aid interest in Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Latino men with prostate cancer.
• To identify disparities in digital tool preferences within this underserved population.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semistructured telephone interviews with 20 underserved Latino men (12 Spanish-speaking, 8 English-speaking) diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Analyzed interview transcripts for emerging themes using a coding protocol with high inter-coder agreement.

Main Results:

• Both groups sought health information online via cellphones and preferred provider recommendations for digital tools.
• English speakers showed higher digital proficiency, preferred self-guided web-based aids, and more family involvement.
• Spanish speakers reported lower digital proficiency, preferred family-involved, coach-guided, paper/visual aids, and had lower formal education levels.

Conclusions:

• Preferred language significantly influences preferences for digital decision aids in prostate cancer care among underserved Latino men.
• Tailoring communication and decision-support tools to language and education levels is crucial for effective shared decision-making.