Randomized trial of effectiveness of a decision aid plus standard care in surgical management among patients with early breast cancer

Patients with early breast cancer must choose between undergoing breast conservation surgery or mastectomy. This decision is often difficult as there are trade-offs between breast conservation and adverse effects. Patients with higher decisional conflict have a harder time choosing the therapy that suits their preferences. A randomized clinical trial at Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai, India) investigated the impact of a decision aid (the Navya Patient Preference Tool) on patients’ decisional conflict scale (DCS) score. The trial, including 245 patients, found that women who used the decision aid had a statistically significant improved DCS score compared to those who did not (p<0.001). The authors conclude that these findings suggest that decision aids and patient assessment tools may provide valuable information for treatment decision-making in patients with early breast cancer.