Influence of a patient decision aid on decisional conflict related to PSA testing: a structural equation model.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of a decision aid (DA) designed to promote informed decision making for screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and to test a theoretical model of factors influencing decisional conflict.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling examined pathways between DA exposure, knowledge, schema, prostate cancer risk perceptions, decisional anxiety, and decisional conflict. Sample participants included 200 men from the general population (exclusive of African Americans) and 200 African American men. Half of the men in each subsample were randomly assigned to receive the DA.


METHODS
Decisional conflict regarding prostate cancer screening.


RESULTS
The DA influences level of decisional conflict by increasing patient knowledge. This effect of knowledge on decisional conflict is indirect, however, through an association with greater perceived risk and lower decisional anxiety. Also, positive PSA schema was associated with lower decisional anxiety and decisional conflict. It is important that exposure to the DA had no impact on PSA schema.


CONCLUSIONS
Schemas about testing must be considered in developing messages about the risks and benefits of testing. If schemas are counter to message content, mechanisms for modifying schemas must be incorporated into interventions.
Stephens
Robert L
RL
Macro International Inc.
Xu
Ye
Y
Macro International Inc.
Volk
Robert J
RJ
0000-0001-8811-5854
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine.
Scholl
Lawrence E
LE
Macro International Inc.
Kamin
Stephanie L
SL
Macro International Inc.
Holden
E Wayne
EW
RTI International, Research Triangle Park.
Stroud
Leonardo A
LA
Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen