Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40258273›Full record

Trial reportJournal of medical Internet research2025

A WeChat-Based Decision Aid Intervention to Promote Informed Decision-Making for Family Members Regarding the Genetic Testing of Patients With Colorectal Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Huanhuan Li, Yanjie Zhao, Wei Li, Wenxia Wang, Shengze Zhi, Yifan Wu, Qiqing Zhong, Rui Wang, Jiao Sun

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

9 authors.

Huanhuan Li *School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9555-0704
Yanjie Zhao *School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0002-8542-5387
Wei LiHebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.ORCID 0009-0000-2010-6871
Wenxia WangSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0007-3333
Shengze ZhiSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0007-3797-6161
Yifan WuSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7916-8783
Qiqing ZhongSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0003-0129-9665
Rui WangSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0005-0407-4466
Jiao SunSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7480-025X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIdentifying patients with inherited colorectal cancer (CRC) syndromes offers many potential benefits. However, individuals often experience decisional conflict regarding genetic testing for CRC, and the uptake rate remains low. Given the growing popularity of genetic testing and the increasing demands on genetic service providers, strategies are needed to promote informed decision-making, increase genetic testing uptake among at-risk individuals, and ensure the rational use of genetic service resources.

objectiveThis study aims to determine whether a decision aid (DA) tool could promote informed decision-making among family members regarding the genetic testing of a patient with CRC.

methodsA single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted. We randomized 82 family members of patients with CRC, who were involved in major medical decision-making for the patient, to either a DA intervention or usual care. The primary outcome was informed decision-making, assessed through measures of knowledge, decisional conflict, decision self-efficacy, and preparation for decision-making. Secondary outcomes included patients' uptake of genetic counseling and testing, participants' CRC screening behavior, healthy lifestyle scores, anxiety and depression levels, quality of life, and satisfaction with the intervention. Data were collected at baseline (T0), after the intervention (T1), and 3 months after the baseline survey (T2). The DA intervention and outcome assessments at T1 and T2 were delivered via WeChat. The effects of the intervention were analyzed using generalized estimating equation models.

resultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in knowledge (T1: β=2.049, P<.001; T2: β=3.317, P<.001), decisional conflict (T1: β=-11.660, P<.001; T2: β=-17.587, P<.001), and decision self-efficacy (T1: β=15.353, P<.001; T2: β=22.337, P<.001) in the DA group compared with the usual care group at both T1 and T2. Additionally, the DA group showed significantly greater improvement in processed and red meat intake (β=-1.494, P<.001) at T1 and in healthy lifestyle scores (β=1.073, P=.03) at T2. No differences were found between the groups for other outcomes.

conclusionsA DA tool may be a safe, effective, and resource-efficient approach to facilitate informed decision-making about genetic testing. However, the current DA tool requires optimization and further evaluation-for example, by leveraging more advanced technology than WeChat to develop a simpler and more intelligent DA system.

trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100048051; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=129054.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsDecision MakingDecision Support TechniquesFamilyGenetic TestingAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Ageddecision aidgenetic testinghereditary colorectal cancerinformed decision-makingRCTWeChat based

Identifiers

PMID40258273
PMCPMC12053134

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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.