title: The effect of information presentation on beliefs about the benefits of elective percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For stable angina, the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited to symptom relief, but patients often believe that PCI prevents myocardial infarction (MI). Whether presenting accurate information about the benefits of PCI would dispel these beliefs remains unknown. We hypothesized that explanatory information would be more effective for influencing volunteers' beliefs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of explicit and explanatory information on participants' beliefs about PCI and their willingness to choose it.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized trial in 2012 among adults older than 50 years living in the general community. We recruited participants using the Internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants read 1 of 3 scenarios in which they experienced class I angina and were referred to a cardiologist. The cardiologist provided no information about the effects of PCI on MI risk, a specific statement that PCI does not reduce MI risk, or an explanation of why PCI does not reduce MI risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' beliefs about the benefit of PCI and choice of PCI and medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1257 participants (90.0%) completed the survey; 54.5% chose PCI. Compared with those receiving explicit and explanatory information, those receiving no information were most likely to believe that PCI prevents MI (71.0% vs 38.7% vs 30.6%, respectively; P < .001), most likely to choose PCI (69.4% vs 48.7% vs 45.7%, respectively; P < .001), and least likely to agree to medication therapy (83.1% vs 87.4% vs 92.3%, respectively; P < .001). Across the entire sample, the decision to have PCI was strongly correlated with the belief that PCI would prevent MI (odds ratio, 5.82 [95% CI, 4.13-8.26]) and that the participant would feel less worried (odds ratio, 5.36 [95% CI, 3.87-7.45]), but was not associated with how much participants were limited by symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the setting of mild, stable angina, most people assume PCI prevents MI and are likely to choose it. Explicit information can partially overcome that bias and influence decision making. Explanatory information was the most effective intervention in overcoming this bias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rothberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kashef
authors.affiliation: Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coylewright
authors.affiliation: Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Henry H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Health Sciences Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor7Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zikmund-Fisher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D032882:Comprehension; D003657:Decision Making; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome