84 Background: ASCO, AUA, ASTRO and SUO endorse shared decision making for men with localized PCa. We explored treatment decisions among providers and their AA patients (pts) in a prospective cohort study at Grady Memorial Hospital and the Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital. Methods: Following their visit, 18 providers documented the PCa treatment options they had discussed with 124 newly diagnosed, early-stage, African American PCa pts. At a subsequent visit, prior to choosing their cancer treatment, pts were asked to name the options they had discussed with their provider. Demographics were collected. Health literacy was measured using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Numeracy, comprehension of common PCa terms, and anatomic knowledge were assessed using published methods (Kilbridge K, et al. J Clin Oncol 27:2015-2021, 2009). Chi-square, t-tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify variables associated with correct understanding of treatment choices. Results: Just 23.4% of pts correctly understood their treatment options. In univariate analysis, only health literacy was statistically significantly associated with comprehension of PCa treatment options (p < 0.05). In a multivariate logistic model adjusting for age, education, income, numeracy, comprehension of common PCa terms, and anatomic knowledge; health literacy remained the only significant predictor of pts’ comprehension of their treatment choices (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-11.9, p = 0.021). Even among the 49 pts with the highest level of health literacy, only 34.7% correctly understood their cancer treatment options (compared to 16.0% among low literacy patients). Conclusions: Successful shared decision making requires pts to understand their treatment choices. Information presented by healthcare providers may be overwhelming for newly diagnosed pts, particularly those with lower health literacy. Our study suggests that even pts with the highest level of health literacy may need additional support to understand their PCa treatment options.