Abstract
BackgroundWe have shown in a randomized controlled trial that a computerized patient decision aid (P-DA) improves medical knowledge and reduces decisional conflict, in early stage papillary thyroid cancer patients considering adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment. Our objectives were to examine the relationship between participants’ baseline information preference style and the following: 1) quantity of detailed information obtained within the P-DA, and 2) medical knowledge.MethodsWe randomized participants to exposure to a one-time viewing of a computerized P-DA (with usual care) or usual care alone. In pre-planned secondary analyses, we examined the relationship between information preference style (Miller Behavioural Style Scale, including respective monitoring [information seeking preference] and blunting [information avoidance preference] subscale scores) and the following: 1) the quantity of detailed information obtained from the P-DA (number of supplemental information clicks), and 2) medical knowledge. Spearman correlation values were calculated to quantify relationships, in the entire study population and respective study arms.ResultsIn the 37 P-DA users, high monitoring information preference was moderately positively correlated with higher frequency of detailed information acquisition in the P-DA (r = 0.414, p = 0.011). The monitoring subscale score weakly correlated with increased medical knowledge in the entire study population (r = 0.268, p = 0.021, N = 74), but not in the respective study arms. There were no significant associations with the blunting subscale score.ConclusionsIndividual variability in information preferences may affect the process of information acquisition from computerized P-DA’s. More research is needed to understand how individual information preferences may impact medical knowledge acquisition and decision-making.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12911-015-0168-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
We have shown in a randomized controlled trial that a computerized patient decision aid (P-DA) improves medical knowledge and reduces decisional conflict, in early stage papillary thyroid cancer patients considering adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment
In a randomized controlled trial comparing the use of this Patient decision aids (P-DAs) to usual care alone, we found that one time P-DA exposure was associated with a significant improvement of medical knowledge and reduction in decisional conflict, compared to no P-DA exposure [13]
We planned for our P-DA to respect users’ autonomy, in deciding what level of detail each individual wanted to access, in the decision-making process. In this pre-planned secondary analysis, we examined the relationship between patients’ information preference style and the following: 1) the number of times supplemental detailed information was obtained by P-DA users, and 2) medical knowledge
Summary
We have shown in a randomized controlled trial that a computerized patient decision aid (P-DA) improves medical knowledge and reduces decisional conflict, in early stage papillary thyroid cancer patients considering adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment. Multidisciplinary panel of scientists recently reported on theoretical literature and empirical evidence the from a variety of disciplines supporting internet-based P-DAs, including the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, Elaboration Likelihood Model, Theory of Goal Setting and Performance, and Stages of Change Theory [4]. This group of experts recommended more research be performed using internet-based P-DAs, examining issues such as interactivity of users [4]
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