title: Improved decisional conflict and preparedness for decision making using a patient decision aid for treatment selection in psoriasis: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed a patient decision aid (pDA) to assist psoriasis patients in treatment decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the pDA in patient knowledge, decisional conflict, and preparation for decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly referred psoriasis patients in a private dermatology office completed self-administered surveys at three time points: before (visit 1) and on two occasions after provision of the pDA (visit 2 up to 2 weeks after visit 1; visit 3 up to 6 weeks after visit 1). The survey included questions regarding knowledge of psoriasis and its treatment and validated questionnaires on decisional conflict and preparation for decision making.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten psoriasis patients participated (seven men, three women; mean age 45.7 years), with a mean age of 11.4 years since diagnosis. Improvement by visit 3 was observed for knowledge (p  =  .06), reduced decisional conflict (p ≤ .001), and preparation for decision making (p ≤ .05). Patients tended to self-select treatment appropriate to the level of psoriasis severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study of the pDA showed improved patient knowledge of psoriasis and its treatments, reduced decisional conflict, and increased patient preparation for decision making.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This small study was not randomized and did not have a comparator arm.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Barat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*