This study used a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether Healium (designed to target preference elicitation) is as efficacious as Healing Choices (a comprehensive education and decision tool) in improving outcomes for decision-making and emotional quality of life.
Background: Elicitation of patients' preferences is an integral part of shared decision making, the recommended approach for prostate cancer decision making. However, existing decision aids for this population do not specifically focus on patients' preferences. Healium is a brief interactive web-based decision aid that aims to elicit patient's treatment preferences and is designed for a low health literate population. This study used a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether Healium (designed to target preference elicitation) is as efficacious as Healing Choices (a comprehensive education and decision tool) in improving outcomes for decision-making and emotional quality of life. Method: Patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer who had not yet made a treatment decision were randomly assigned to the brief Healium intervention or Healing Choices, an extensive decision aid previously developed by our group that serves as a virtual information center on prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Assessments were completed at baseline, 6-weeks and 3-months post-baseline, and included decisional outcomes (decisional conflict, satisfaction with decision, preparation for decision-making), and emotional quality of life (anxiety/tension and depression), along with demographics, comorbidities, and health literacy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
327
web-based platform to elicit patients' preferences about prostate cancer treatment and designed for low health literature populations
Northwell Health
Manhasset, New York, United States
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Decisional Conflict Scale
Decisional Conflict was measured with the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), a well-validated scale consisting of 16 items that assess four dimensions: informed, clarity, uncertainty, and support. The response ranges are on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. To come up with a total score, the 16 items are summed, divided by 16 and multiplied by 25. Scores range from 0 (no decisional conflict) to 100 (extremely high decisional conflict).
Time frame: 6 weeks post-baseline
Decisional Conflict Scale
Decisional Conflict was measured with the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), a well-validated scale consisting of 16 items that assess four dimensions: informed, clarity, uncertainty, and support. The response ranges are on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. To come up with a total score, the 16 items are summed, divided by 16 and multiplied by 25. Scores range from 0 (no decisional conflict) to 100 (extremely high decisional conflict).
Time frame: 3 months post-baseline
Profile of Mood States- Short form
The Profile of Mood States (POMS) is a psychological rating scale used to assess transient, distinct mood states. It is made of subscales for depression, tension, fatigue, confusion, anger, vigor and esteem-related affect. It consists of 30 items, each measured on a 5-point scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely". A total score is calculated by summing the totals for the negative scales and subtracting the totals for the positive scales.
Time frame: 6 weeks post-baseline
Profile of Mood States-Short form
The Profile of Mood States (POMS) is a psychological rating scale used to assess transient, distinct mood states. It is made of subscales for depression, tension, fatigue, confusion, anger, vigor and esteem-related affect. It consists of 30 items, each measured on a 5-point scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely". A total score is calculated by summing the totals for the negative scales and subtracting the totals for the positive scales.
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Time frame: 3 months post-baseline