PRE-ACT increases knowledge, reduces attitudinal barriers; linked to greater patient satisfaction
MONDAY, Dec. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Educational content delivered before the first oncologist visit, in either tailored video or text format, can improve patient willingness to consider participation in clinical trials, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Neal J. Meropol, M.D., from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, and colleagues conducted a prospective, randomized trial to compare Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials (PRE-ACT), a theory-guided, web-based interactive computer program that delivers tailored video educational content to patients, and a control condition that provided general clinical trial information in text format. Data were included for 1,255 patients with cancer who were randomized to PRE-ACT (623 patients) or control (632 patients) before their initial visit with an oncologist.
The researchers found that relative to baseline, both PRE-ACT and control interventions improved knowledge and attitudes (P < 0.001). Compared with patients allocated to the control condition, patients randomized to PRE-ACT demonstrated a significantly greater increase in knowledge and a significantly greater decrease in attitudinal barriers (both P < 0.001). In both arms, participants significantly increased their willingness to consider clinical trials (P < 0.001), with a trend favoring the PRE-ACT group (P < 0.09). Greater satisfaction was seen with PRE-ACT versus the control intervention.
“These data show that patient education before the first oncologist visit improves knowledge, attitudes, and preparation for decision making about clinical trials,” the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
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