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How do patients between the age of 65 and 75 use a web‐based decision aid for treatment choice in localized prostate cancer?
Author(s) -
Schrijvers Jessie,
Vanderhaegen Joke,
Poppel Hendrik,
Haustermans Karin,
Audenhove Chantal
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of evidence‐based medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.885
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 1756-5391
DOI - 10.1111/jebm.12051
Subject(s) - usability , the internet , decision support system , decision aids , decision process , medicine , web application , decision making , computer science , world wide web , psychology , artificial intelligence , engineering , management science , alternative medicine , operations management , pathology , human–computer interaction , purchasing
Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the use of a web‐based decision aid by a 65plus patient group in their decision‐making process for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Of particular interest was the use of technology features such as patients’ statements, comparative tables, and a values clarification tool. Methods One hundred men from the University Hospital of Leuven campus, Gasthuisberg, were invited to use the web‐based decision aid in their decision‐making process. Twenty‐six men were excluded based on non‐ or limited use of the decision aid. Of the remaining 74 men, user specifications, decision aid surfing characteristics by means of web‐log data, and especially the use of technology features were analyzed. Results Men spent on average 30 minutes on the web‐based decision aid. Most time was spent on the pages with information on treatment options. These pages were also most frequently accessed. The use of the feature ‘comparative tables’ was the highest, followed by the ‘values clarification tool’. According to age (<70 or >70 years) differences were observed for the time spent on the decision aid, the pages accessed, and the use of the technology features. Conclusion Despite concerns about the usability of a web‐based decision aid for elderly patients, these results indicated that the majority of 65plus persons with good internet skills use a web‐based decision aid as well as its incorporated technology features.