The purpose of this study is to evaluate a decision aid (written information booklet designed to facilitate informed decision making) to help people aged 55-64 years, with low levels of education and literacy, make an informed choice about bowel cancer screening, using faecal occult blood testing.
Several countries have recently implemented national bowel cancer screening programs. To ensure equal access to screening, consumer information is needed to suit adults ranging in literacy level. Decision aids (DAs) are tools which have been developed to assist patients and consumers make informed health decisions and encourage active participation in health care decisions. Their use in a wide range of clinical settings has increased dramatically. However, most DAs are highly dependent upon high levels of literacy and numeracy, and few have been developed for low literacy populations. This primary aims of this study are to assess the impact of the decision aid on (1) the proportion of adults who make an informed choice about bowel cancer screening (using faecal occult blood test) and, (2) the level of involvement in screening decisions among adults with lower levels of education and literacy. There are three secondary aims of the study. First, to measure the effect of the decision support tool on decisional conflict, decision satisfaction, anxiety, and bowel cancer worry. Second, to identify participant's screening interest, intentions and behavior. Thirdly, we will explore participant's reactions towards the information materials they receive and whether the doctor influenced their screening decision.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
555
A decision aid developed for adults with low levels of education and literacy making decisions about bowel cancer screening, using faecal occult blood test (FOBT)
A decision aid developed for adults with low levels of education and literacy making decisions about bowel cancer screening, using faecal occult blood test (FOBT)
A consumer booklet developed by the Australian Government for people taking part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening program
Hunter Valley Research Foundation
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
RECRUITINGInformed choice
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Involvement in screening decision
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Anxiety
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Bowel cancer worry
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Decisional conflict
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Decision satisfaction
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Bowel cancer screening interest
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Bowel cancer screening intentions
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Screening behaviour
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Self reported bowel cancer symptoms
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Evaluation of intervention materials
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Influence of doctor on screening decision
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
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