title: The impact of individualized evidence-based decision support on aneurysm patients' decision making, ideals of autonomy, and quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with an asymptomatic abdominal aneurysm and their surgeon were randomized to receive a general brochure (GB) or an IB presenting survival information and a ranking of the treatment strategies. Before and after receiving the brochure, patients filled out questionnaires on their behavior during the consultation, ideals of patient autonomy, and quality of life. Surgeons answered a short checklist evaluating the consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients participated, 49 in the intervention, 51 in the control group. The IB group had a better understanding of important issues in the treatment decision, had prepared more questions, and was less satisfied with the duration of the consultation. Their impression that the surgeon perceived them more as a medical problem than a patient with a problem increased. They agreed less with the surgeon's advice and lost some of their belief in "the doctor knows best.'' Beforehand, the IB group had a stronger preference for patient-based decisions, but afterward they displayed more surgeon-based decisions. No effects were seen on patients' quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individualized evidence-based information stimulated patients' active involvement but in the context of our study led to less patient-based decisions. Patient-made decisions and patient autonomy should, however, not be equated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. A.M.Stiggelbout@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stiggelbout
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Molewijk
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.forename: J Hajo
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Van Bockel
authors.forename: Cornelis M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bruijninckx
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van der Salm
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kievit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires