Evaluating a decision aid for patients with localized prostate cancer in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of a decision aid regarding treatment options for patients with early-stage localized prostate cancer.


METHODS
50 patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer received the decision aid and were interviewed twice: before the decision-making consultation with the physicians and before treatment or, in case of watchful waiting, before the follow-up consultation. The physicians (radiation oncologists and urologists) were interviewed after the consultation.


RESULTS
The patients became more active partners in the decision-making process: They were better prepared for the consultation, asked more direct information, and were able to make a more deliberative choice. Generally, the use of the decision aid improved the quality of the consultation and resulted in a treatment decision agreed upon by both parties. Sometimes the consultation turned out to be more time-consuming. The decision aid did not only improve the patient-physician interaction but also helped patients to discuss the disease with their partner and family members.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the decision aid has a positive impact on the consultation and the decision-making process. The policy of involving patients more actively in the decision process should be further implemented in daily practice.
Isebaert
S
S
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Belgium. Sofie.Isebaert@med.kuleuven.be
Van Audenhove
C
C
Haustermans
K
K
Junius
S
S
Joniau
S
S
De Ridder
K
K
Van Poppel
H
H
D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011467:Prostate / Q000601:surgery; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014572:Urology / Q000379:methods*