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Background. Patient decision aids (PtDAs) supplement advice from health care professionals by communicating the absolute risk or benefit of treatment options (i.e., X/100). As such, PtDAs have been amenable to binary outcomes only. We aimed to develop and test the validity of the Conversion to Risk Estimates through Application of Normal Theory (CREATE) method for estimating absolute risk based on continuous outcome data. Methods. CREATE is designed to derive an estimate of the proportion of those who experience a clinically relevant degree of change (CRDoC). We used a 2-stage validation process using real and simulated change score data, respectively. First, using raw data from published intervention trials, we calculated the proportion of patients with a CRDoC and compared that with our CREATE-derived estimate using chi-square tests of association. Second, 200,000 simulated distributions of change scores were generated with widely varying distribution characteristics. Actual and CREATE-derived estimates were compared for each simulated distribution, and relative differences were summarized graphically. Results. The absolute difference between the estimated and actual CRDoC did not exceed 5% for any of the samples based on real data. Applying the CREATE method to 200,000 simulated scenarios demonstrated that the CREATE method should be avoided for outcomes where the underlying distribution can be reasonably assumed to have high levels of skew or kurtosis. Conclusion. Our results suggest that standard statistical theory can be used to estimate continuous outcomes in absolute terms with reasonable accuracy for use in PtDAs; caution is advised if outcome summary statistics are assumed to have been derived from highly skewed distributions.

The pilot study aimed to explore the effects of an educational intervention on patients’ foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and behaviors in adult patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration. The intervention consisted of three sessions and was given over a 3-week period. A total of 70 eligible consenting participants were recruited for this pilot study. Fifty-six participants completed the study. The outcomes were assessed at pretest, following the first two sessions, and 3-month follow-up. The findings indicated that the foot self-care educational intervention was effective in improving foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviors in adult patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulceration. The findings support the effects of the intervention. Future research should evaluate its efficacy using a randomized clinical trial design, and a large sample of patients with type 2 diabetes at low risk for foot ulcerations.

Breast cancer patients requiring mastectomy do not consistently receive information about post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) surgery from the treatment team. Patients have varying levels of self-efficacy, defined as one's confidence in their ability to gather information and make health-related decisions. The present preliminary study was designed to evaluate the relationship between self-efficacy and access to PMBR information.A qualitative interview study was conducted on a convenience sample of 10 breast cancer patients considering or having already undergone PMBR and six key health care provider informants. The modified six-item Stanford Self-Efficacy Scale for managing chronic disease was administered.Patient self-efficacy scores ranged from 5 to 9.3 (out of 10). Two main access to information themes were identified from the patient qualitative data: theme A - difficulty initiating the PMBR discussion; and theme B - perceived lack of access to PMBR information with the sub-themes of timing, modality, quantity and content of resources. All respondents expressed their concern over the absence of a standardized process for initiating the dialogue of PMBR. Patients also reported that credible and easily accessible information was not routinely available and expressed a desire to hear about their PMBR options early in the decision-making process.Health care providers may need to assume more responsibility in standardizing information dissemination on PMBR. This information should be distributed early in the consultation process, the content should be complete, and there may be a role for individualizing the delivery of information based on a patient's level of self-efficacy.Les patientes atteintes de cancer du sein qui ont besoin de subir une mastectomie ne reçoivent pas systématiquement de l’information sur la reconstruction mammaire après une opération (RMAO) de la part de l’équipe soignante. Les patients ont divers degrés d’autoefficacité, définie comme la confiance en leur habileté à recueillir de l’information et à prendre des décisions liées à leur santé. La présente étude préliminaire a été conçue pour évaluer la relation entre l’autoefficacité et l’accès à l’information sur la RMAO.Une étude d’entrevue qualitative a été menée sur un échantillon de commodité de dix patientes atteintes du cancer du sein qui envisageaient subir une RMAO ou l’avaient déjà subie et six informateurs qui étaient des professionnels de la santé. Les chercheurs ont administré l’échelle d’autoefficacité modifiée de Stanford en six éléments pour prendre en charge les maladies chroniques.Les indices d’autoefficacité variaient de 5 à 9,3 (sur 10). Les données qualitatives des patientes ont permis de repérer deux grands thèmes d’accès à l’information : thème A – difficulté à amorcer la discussion sur la RMAO; et thème B – absence perçue d’accès à l’information de la RMAO, ainsi que les sous-thèmes du moment, de la modalité, de la quantité et du contenu des ressources. Tous les répondants ont exprimé leur préoccupation quant à l’absence de processus standardisé pour amorcer le dialogue sur la RMAO. Les patients ont également déclaré qu’il n’était pas systématiquement possible d’obtenir de l’information crédible et facilement accessible et ont exprimé le souhait d’entendre parler des diverses possibilités de RMAO au début du processus de prise de décision.Les dispensateurs de soins peuvent avoir besoin d’assumer plus de responsabilités dans la standardisation de la diffusion de l’information sur la RMAO. Il faudrait distribuer cette information rapidement dans le processus de consultation, le contenu devrait être complet, et il pourrait être bon de personnaliser la transmission de l’information d’après le taux d’autoefficacité du patient.

Owing to the significant breast cancer risk associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, women with these mutations have several options available to them by which to reduce the risk of breast cancer. These include surgical (prophylactic mastectomy and prophylactic oophorectomy) and medical (chemoprevention) options. The breast cancer risk reductions associated with these options range from a 90% risk reduction associated with prophylactic mastectomy to approximately 50% with oophorectomy or tamoxifen. This article reviews the efficacy of prophylactic oophorectomy for the prevention of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. The predictors of uptake of the preventive surgery will be discussed, in addition to the psychosocial implications of the surgery.