Abstract A32: Implementing a breast cancer treatment patient decision aid in a medically underserved population in Texas

Background: Decision aids are designed to help patients make informed decisions about medical treatment options. We developed and evaluated the effectiveness of culturally and linguistically appropriate breast cancer patient decision aid, “A Patchwork of Life” (PLife), targeted at medically underserved women with limited literacy. The PLife is a computer-based learning environment that involves two key components, soap opera segments and related learning modules designed to support breast cancer (Stages I-IIIA) surgery decision-making and to encourage communication about treatment decision with their provider, relatives and friends. The objectives of the current project are to implement the Plife program at one of the National Community Cancer Center Program (NCCCP) sites, in Austin Texas to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the PLife program at the NCCCP clinic site by conducting an assessment of program outcomes with various stakeholders – patients, physicians, and patient navigator; 2) evaluate patients’ and providers'perceptions of the usefulness of the intervention for aiding in their decision-making.

Experimental Procedures: We will recruit 60 patients diagnosed with Stage I-IIIA breast cancer over 18 months. Patients will be identified through pathology and other medical records and physician referrals. Those who consent will complete all baseline assessments before implementation of the PLife decision aid. A Patient Navigator will arrange for a convenient time for the patient to view the program. Immediately after viewing the program, patients will answer a questionnaire rating the program. Follow-up data collection with patients will take place via phone 2-weeks after viewing the program. Measures to be collected at the 2-week follow up include breast cancer knowledge, decisional conflict, and treatment preferences, and provider perception questionnaires. Questionnaires will be administered in Spanish and English.

Expected Results and Conclusions: The proposed project will enable the NCCCP site to significantly enhance breast cancer education, awareness and navigation for the underserved breast cancer patients who currently do not receive education or navigation services utilizing a tool that has been proven to assist patients with limited literacy in making informed breast cancer treatment decisions.

Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):A32.