Web Tool Aids Men in Prostate Decisions

Men considering prostate cancer screening who used an interactive Web-based, decision-making tool knew more about the disease and were less likely to choose screening than men who got information from credible Web sites, a U.S. study concludes.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, looked at 611 men, all older than 50, who were randomly assigned to different prostate screening decision support approaches, including a Web-based decision aid that explained the nature, detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The tool included video clips of doctors and patients expressing different opinions about prostate cancer screening.

Other men were told to get information about prostate cancer screening at the Web sites of the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Men who used the decision aid were less likely to seek other sources of information afterward. This suggests they were more satisfied with the information they received and more confident about their decisions based on that information, said study author Dominick L. Frosch, an assistant professor of medicine.