Evidence map›Paper›PMID 20507844›Full record

Trial reportJournal of medical Internet research2010

Supporting informed decision making online in 20 minutes: an observational web-log study of a PSA test decision aid.

Natalie Joseph-Williams, Rhodri Evans, Adrian Edwards, Robert G Newcombe, Patricia Wright, Richard Grol, Glyn Elwyn

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of medical Internet research, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. What is lacking in current decision aids on cancer screening?CA: a cancer journal for clinicians · 2013
    Review
  7. Communicating risk to patients and the public.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2012
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Natalie Joseph-WilliamsDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. josephnj1@cf.ac.uk
Rhodri Evans
Adrian Edwards
Robert G Newcombe
Patricia Wright
Richard Grol
Glyn Elwyn

Funding

Cancer Research UK C6475/A7490
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWeb-based decision aids are known to have an effect on knowledge, attitude, and behavior; important components of informed decision making. We know what decision aids achieve in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but we still know very little about how they are used and how this relates to the informed decision making outcome measures.

objectiveTo examine men's use of an online decision aid for prostate cancer screening using website transaction log files (web-logs), and to examine associations between usage and components of informed decision making.

methodsWe conducted an observational web-log analysis of users of an online decision aid, Prosdex. Men between 50 and 75 years of age were recruited for an associated RCT from 26 general practices across South Wales, United Kingdom. Men allocated to one arm of the RCT were included in the current study. Time and usage data were derived from website log files. Components of informed decision making were measured by an online questionnaire.

resultsAvailable for analysis were 82 web-logs. Overall, there was large variation in the use of Prosdex. The mean total time spent on the site was 20 minutes. The mean number of pages accessed was 32 (SD 21) out of a possible 60 pages. Significant associations were found between increased usage and increased knowledge (Spearman rank correlation [rho] = 0.69, P < .01), between increased usage and less favorable attitude towards PSA testing (rho = -0.52, P < .01), and between increased usage and reduced intention to undergo PSA testing (rho = -0.44, P < .01). A bimodal distribution identified two types of user: low access and high access users.

conclusionsIncreased usage of Prosdex leads to more informed decision making, the key aim of the UK Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme. However, developers realistically have roughly 20 minutes to provide useful information that will support informed decision making when the patient uses a web-based interface. Future decision aids need to be developed with this limitation in mind. We recommend that web-log analysis should be an integral part of online decision aid development and analysis.

trial registrationISRCTN48473735; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN48473735 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5pqeF89tS).

Indexed as

Decision Support TechniquesHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeInternetOnline SystemsAgedBiomarkers, TumorFemaleHumansMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedPatient Education as TopicPopulation SurveillanceProstate-Specific AntigenProstatic NeoplasmsRisk ManagementBiomarkers, TumorProstate-Specific Antigen

Identifiers

PMID20507844
PMCPMC2956226

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.