A randomized trial of a computerized versus an audio-booklet decision aid for women considering post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy.

Abstract

Background. Decision support interventions (DSIs) are interventions used by patients and their practitioners to help make difficult shared healthcare decisions. The efficacy of these interventions is well established. However, there are no formal comparisons of the efficacy of different delivery methods. Interactive computerized delivery methods have the advantage of allowing patients to control the flow of information and to receive feedback on their comprehension. Objective. To compare the efficacy of an interactive computerized DSI for women considering long term hormone replacement therapy (HRT), to that of a validated audio-booklet-based version of the same intervention. Study design. Fifty-one peri- and post-menopausal women aged 40--70 who were literate in English, and who showed no evidence of cognitive impairment, were randomized to use either the computerized or the standard audio-booklet version of the DSI. The patients were interviewed with a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire. Interventions. (1) Standard audio-booklet-based decision aid: A 40-minute audio tape guided participants through an illustrated booklet describing the risks and benefits of post-menopausal HRT. (2) Interactive computer based decision aid: The computerized version of the DSI presents identical information as synchronized text/audio/animation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)