Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Development of a patient decision aid on post-vasectomy semen analysis for vasectomized men
Happy Tahirih Kampire1, Souleymane Diabaté1, Jonathan Cloutier2
1Research Center, CHU de Quebec-Université Laval, 1050, Ch Ste-Foy, G1S 4L8 Quebec City, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, G1V 0A6 Quebec City, Canada.
Introduction:
Clinical practice guidelines recommend that vasectomized men submit a semen sample for post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA) after the procedure. However, about one-third of men do not comply with this recommendation. Complying with PVSA appears to be a "difficult" decision according to the Ottawa Decision Support Framework. We created a Patient Decision Aid (PtDA) to help men decide whether to do a PVSA and assessed its acceptability and perceived utility.
Methods:
A multidisciplinary committee developed the PtDA, applying international standards through an iterative process. Content was based on literature on the determinants of compliance with PVSA and vasectomy effectiveness statistics retrieved from Vasectomie Québec, the largest vasectomy clinic in Canada. We conducted two 11-item surveys of men vasectomized in five vasectomy clinics located in the Province of Quebec, Canada to assess the PtDA acceptability and perceived utility.
Results:
The PtDA includes a description of the PVSA, vasectomy success/failure probabilities, reasons reported for doing a PVSA or not, and resources to help with decision-making. In both surveys (n=28 and 78), participants found the tool to be acceptable overall. More than 90% found it easy to understand and helpful for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of options and deciding which option to choose. More than 95% of men reported that the language and statistics were easy to understand.
Conclusion:
Vasectomized men considered the PtDA on PVSA as acceptable and useful for deciding whether to do a PVSA.
