title: Evaluation of the effect of a patient decision aid about vasectomy on the decision-making process: a randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Between 7% and 10% of men who choose vasectomy as a contraceptive method regret their decision. This study evaluates the effect of a patient decision aid (PtDA) designed to help men decide whether or not to have a vasectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men considering vasectomy were randomized to an experimental group that received a full PtDA containing information and values guidance (n=32) or to a control group that received an abridged PtDA containing information only (n=31).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) scores before and after the intervention were 2.6±0.4 and 1.9±0.4 in the experimental group and 2.5±0.4 and 1.8±0.4 in the control group (p=.94), respectively. Mean knowledge of vasectomy scores before and after the intervention were 50%±16% and 72%±18% in the experimental group and 55%±18% and 71%±15% in the control group (p=.40), respectively. At baseline, all participants were undecided as to whether to have a vasectomy. After the intervention, 60% of experimental group participants and 53% of control group participants had made a definite decision (p=.58).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In men considering vasectomy, both versions of the PtDAs improved the quality of decision-making process to a similar extent. Information alone may be sufficient to support good decision making in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, Canada. michel.labrecque@mfa.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paunescu
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Plesu
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stacey
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Légaré
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011792:Quebec; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000523:psychology*