Patient and family communication during consultation visits: The effects of a decision aid for treatment decision-making for localized prostate cancer

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyze the effects of a decision aid on improving patients’ and family members’ information giving and question asking during consultations for prostate cancer treatment decision-making. MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of archived audio-recorded real-time consultation visits with participants from a randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups: TD—intervention targeted patient-only; TS—intervention targeted patients and family members; and control—a handout on staying healthy during treatment. We conducted content analysis using a researcher-developed communication coding system. Using SAS 9.3, we conducted Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test to examine whether information giving and question asking among patients and family members varied by groups when discussing different content/topics. ResultsCompared with those in the TS and control groups, significantly higher percentages of participants in the TD group demonstrated information giving in discussing topics about diagnosis, treatment options, risks and benefits, and preferences; and engaged in question asking when discussing diagnosis, watchful waiting/active surveillance, risks and benefits, and preferences for treatment impacts. ConclusionInformation support and communication skills training for patients were effective in improving communication during treatment decision-making consultations. Practice implicationsProviding information about prostate cancer and communication skills training empower patients and their family members.