A usability study of a computerized decision aid to help patients with, early stage papillary thyroid carcinoma in, decision-making on adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment

Sawka, Anna M.; Straus, Sharon; Gafni, Amiram; Meiyappan, Soumia; O’Brien, Mary Ann; Brierley, James D.; Tsang, Richard W.; Rotstein, Lorne; Thabane, Lehana; Rodin, Gary; George, Susan R.; Goldstein, David P.

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2010.07.038

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Volume 84, Issue 2 , Pages e24-e27, August 2011

A usability study of a computerized decision aid to help patients with, early stage papillary thyroid carcinoma in, decision-making on adjuvant radioactive iodine treatment

Anna M. Sawka
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada M5G 2C4
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
- Corresponding author at: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, 12 EN-212, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4. Tel.: +1 416 340 3678; fax: +1 416 340 3314.
Sharon Straus
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
Amiram Gafni
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Canada
Soumia Meiyappan
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada M5G 2C4
Mary Ann O’Brien
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Canada
James D. Brierley
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Canada
Richard W. Tsang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Canada
Lorne Rotstein
- Department of Surgery, University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Canada
Lehana Thabane
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Canada
Gary Rodin
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Canada
Susan R. George
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada M5G 2C4
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
David P. Goldstein
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Canada

Received 9 January 2010; received in revised form 17 July 2010; accepted 25 July 2010. published online 23 August 2010.

Abstract

Objective

We tested the usability of a patient-directed decision aid (DA), intended for patients with early stage papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) deciding to accept or reject adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. This decision is complicated by uncertainty of the medical evidence relating to potential treatment benefits.

Methods

The DA was tested by 12 thyroid cancer survivors, 7 thyroid specialty physicians, and 30 lay individuals with no history of thyroid cancer. The participants completed the System Usability Scale for human–computer interaction questionnaire. The medical knowledge of lay participants was assessed before and after DA exposure. Qualitative participant feedback was obtained by thinking aloud during DA use, as well as from interviews.

Results

Participants generally found the usability of the DA acceptable. The DA significantly increased medical knowledge. In spite of some physicians’ concerns about disclosure of treatment controversy and evidence uncertainty, it was found to be acceptable to non-physicians.