title: Exploring the relationship between patients' information preference style and knowledge acquisition process in a computerized patient decision aid randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have shown in a randomized controlled trial that a computerized patient decision aid (P-DA) improves medical knowledge and reduces decisional conflict, in early stage papillary thyroid cancer patients considering adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment. Our objectives were to examine the relationship between participants' baseline information preference style and the following: 1) quantity of detailed information obtained within the P-DA, and 2) medical knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomized participants to exposure to a one-time viewing of a computerized P-DA (with usual care) or usual care alone. In pre-planned secondary analyses, we examined the relationship between information preference style (Miller Behavioural Style Scale, including respective monitoring [information seeking preference] and blunting [information avoidance preference] subscale scores) and the following: 1) the quantity of detailed information obtained from the P-DA (number of supplemental information clicks), and 2) medical knowledge. Spearman correlation values were calculated to quantify relationships, in the entire study population and respective study arms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 37 P-DA users, high monitoring information preference was moderately positively correlated with higher frequency of detailed information acquisition in the P-DA (r = 0.414, p = 0.011). The monitoring subscale score weakly correlated with increased medical knowledge in the entire study population (r = 0.268, p = 0.021, N = 74), but not in the respective study arms. There were no significant associations with the blunting subscale score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual variability in information preferences may affect the process of information acquisition from computerized P-DA's. More research is needed to understand how individual information preferences may impact medical knowledge acquisition and decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, 12 EN-212, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. sawkaam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sawka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Shuter 2-026, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.|Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Straus
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 16th Floor Room 724, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 16th Floor Room 724, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 5th Floor Room 963, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 5th Floor Room 963, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brierley
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, 10 EN-220, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.|Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth Street, 10 EN-220, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Lorne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rotstein
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, 12 EN-216, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.|Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth Street, 12 EN-216, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, CRL-208, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Amiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gafni
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Oncology Site Group, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Endocrine Oncology 585 University Avenue, 9NU-986, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: Shereen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ezzat
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Wharton Head and Neck Centre, University Health Network, 3-952, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.|Wharton Head and Neck Centre, University of Toronto, 3-952, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*