Rahn AC, Riemann-Lorenz K, Alegiani A, Pust GEA, van de Roemer A, Schmitz L, Vettorazzi E, Köpke S, Heesen C.
| Objectives: To evaluate patient information materials on confidence intervals (CIs) in multiple sclerosis to be used with patient decision aids. Methods: Web-based randomised controlled parallel group trial with four study arms. Participants were equally allocated to one of three versions of audio-visual patient information or to a standard written information (arm IV). In the short version (arm III), CIs were explained without using an example, in the other two versions examples were used (arm I and arm II). The examples are based on an apple farmer who wants to estimate the average weight of his apples (arm I) and to test a treatment against worms (arm II). Primary endpoint was comprehension of CIs, assessed with a six-item multiple-choice questionnaire. Results: 855 of 1068 (80 %) randomised participants completed the survey (71 % arm I, 73 % arm II, 87 % arm III, 90 % arm IV). The median of correctly answered questions on CIs was 4 out of 6 questions in arms I and II and 5 out of 6 questions in arm III. Compared to the standard information (arm IV), all the other arms scored better on the comprehension questionnaire (ANOVA, p ≤0.003). Conclusions: Information about CIs can be presented comprehensibly. High scores and a high rate of completers indicate that the short version is the favourable one. Practice implications: Information materials on CIs should be used alongside absolute risk reductions in patient decision aids to enhance the interpretation of study results. |
Patient Educ and Couns. 2021 May;104(5):1132-1139
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