Effects of Patient Education on Decisions about Breast Cancer Treatments

Abstract

The authors examined the effects of materials for educating patients about treatment options for breast cancer on knowledge about the disease, preferences for alternative treatments, and how changes in knowledge and preferences were related. Eighty-two undergraduate students acted as advisors to a hypothetical patient. They completed a knowledge test and rated their preferences for three options-breast-sparing surgery with radiation, mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery, and mastectomy followed by use of a breast prosthesis— before and after viewing a videotape or a booklet version of the educational materials. Both formats increased knowledge scores. Treatment preferences were not affected by reading the booklet, but viewing the videotape resulted in a preference shift toward breast-sparing surgery. This media difference may be due to features of the video that were not reproduced in the booklet, such as interviews with other patients. Knowledge gains were uncorrelated with preference changes. Key words: patient decision making; patient education; breast cancer; educational technology; video; knowledge; preferences. (Med Decis Making 1995;15:231-239)