Evaluate the effectiveness of breast cancer decision aids: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomize clinical trails.
Jin-Ping Gao, Ying-Hui Jin, Shao-Fu Yu and 2 others
PMID 33377613WHAT IT FOUND
Breast cancer decision aids reduced decisional conflict for treatment choices but not screening.
They did not improve knowledge, satisfaction, or anxiety. Clinicians can use them to help patients weigh options, but should not expect them to increase understanding or reduce distress.
Key findings
01Decision aids significantly reduced decisional conflict for treatment decisions but not for screening decisions.
02There was no significant difference in patients' knowledge, satisfaction, or anxiety between those using decision aids and those receiving standard care.
03The study included 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4,288 participants.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The quality of the included randomized controlled trials varied, with many failing to describe allocation concealment or blinding. Only four studies used intention-to-treat analysis for dropouts. Different measurement tools and times for outcomes across studies introduced potential bias. The review did not assess health outcomes like symptoms or adverse events.
Declared interests
The author reports no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume decision aids improve patient knowledge or reduce anxiety. The meta-analysis found no significant difference in these outcomes compared to standard care, meaning the primary benefit is reducing decisional conflict, not increasing understanding or emotional well-being.