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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03791138

The Impact of a Web-based Patient Decision Aid for Women Considering Breast Reconstruction

This study evaluates the impact of an online patient decision aid on the process of decision making regarding breast reconstruction and the decision quality in women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy and considering immediate breast reconstruction. Half of participants will receive care as usual and access to the online decision aid, while the other half will receive care as usual including a standard information leaflet.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, Netherlands

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About this study

Rationale: In the Netherlands, of the approximately 15,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, about 40% undergo mastectomy. A wide variety of breast reconstructive methods are offered to these women. In most cases, there is no clear medical recommendation on which procedure is the best. Decisions for breast surgery and reconstruction are frequently made during an emotionally burdensome and restricted timeframe. Women may find it hard to make a decision for the type of surgery and reconstruction, some feel that the decision is hurried and uninformed, and many have some degree of regret about their decision at a later date. To support women in making a well-informed decision about breast reconstruction, an online patient decision aid (pDA) has been developed.

Objective: The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the use of the online pDA on the process of decision making regarding breast reconstruction and the decision quality. The secondary objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the use of the online pDA on patient reported health outcomes, to identify possible moderators of the effect, and to investigate the cost-effectiveness.

Hypotheses: It is hypothesized that the online pDA, as compared to usual care, will improve the decision making process about breast reconstruction (i.e. leads to less decisional conflict, higher satisfaction with information, higher levels of preparedness for decision making and higher perceived levels of shared decision making) and that it will improve the decision quality (i.e. leads to higher levels of knowledge about breast reconstruction and lower levels of regret).

Study design: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be performed in eight hospitals. All consenting participants will be randomized into one of the two study arms (intervention group or control group). Women in both groups will be invited to complete questionnaires at baseline (i.e. before randomization), 1 week after consultation with a plastic surgeon and 3 and 12 months after breast surgery.

Study population: 250 women will participate.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • female (≥18 years);
  • diagnosed with breast cancer or carcinoma in situ;
  • will be treated with mastectomy and is eligible for immediate breast reconstruction;
  • is referred to a plastic surgeon (consultation takes place ≥3 working days after study invitation);
  • has internet access and sufficient computer skills;
  • is able to read and speak the Dutch language.

Exclusion criteria

None

Treatment and study plan

online patient decision aid

Other

An online, interactive tool that can be used to prepare for consultation with a plastic surgeon which contains evidence-based information about breast reconstruction options, the pros and cons of the options, value clarification exercises and patient narratives. It results in a summary sheet with patients' personal values and questions that can be discussed during consultation with a plastic surgeon.

Other names: Breast Reconstruction Decision Aid

Primary outcomes

  1. decisional conflict

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with a plastic surgeon (T1)

    decisional conflict scale (DCS); the DCS consists of a total score and five subscales (uncertainty, feeling informed, feeling clear about values, feeling supported and effective decision-making). It consists of 16 items which are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (strongly agree- strongly disagree). Scores range from 0 - 100, with higher scores indicating more decisional conflict.

Secondary outcomes

  1. decisional conflict

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    decisional conflict scale (DCS); the DCS consists of a total score and five subscales (uncertainty, feeling informed, feeling clear about values, feeling supported and effective decision-making). It consists of 16 items which are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (strongly agree- strongly disagree). Scores range from 0 - 100, with higher scores indicating more decisional conflict.

  2. decision regret

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    decision regret scale (DRS); the DRS consists of 5 items, rated on a 5 point Likert-type scale (strongly agree - strongly disagree). Scores range from 0 - 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of regret.

  3. knowledge about breast reconstruction

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with plastic surgeon (T1); 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    study-specific questionnaire consisting of 10 items (true/false/I don't know)

  4. preparedness for decision making

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with a plastic surgeon (T1)

    preparation for decision making scale; 10 items, rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (Not at all - a great deal). Scores range from 0 - 100, with higher scores indicating higher perceived level of preparation for decision making.

  5. satisfaction with information

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with plastic surgeon (T1); 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    three study-specific questions (a. How satisfied are you with the information about breast reconstruction? (5 point Likert-scale: not at all - very satisfied), b. Did you miss information? (yes/no), and c. Would you have preferred less information? (yes/no)). The subsample of women who opted for breast reconstruction will also complete the Satisfaction with Information-subscale of the Breast-Q (14 items, 4 point Likert-type scale, very dissatisfied - very satisfied, scores range from 0 -100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of satisfaction with information).

  6. patient's perception of shared decision making

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with a plastic surgeon (T1)

    shared decision making questionnaire (SDM-Q-9); the SDM-Q-9 consists of 9 items, rated on a 6 point Likert-type scale (completely disagree - completely agree). The sum of all items (score between 0 - 45) will be multiplied by 20/9 to transform scores to range from 0 -100, where 0 indicates the lowest possible level of shared decision making and 100 indicates the highest extent of shared decision making.

  7. satisfaction with plastic surgeon

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with plastic surgeon (T1)

    The subscale Satisfaction with Surgeon of the Breast-Q consists of 12 items, rated on a 4 point Likert-type scale (completely disagree - completely agree). Scores range from 0 - 100.

  8. actual choice

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    actual choice about breast reconstruction (self-reported and verified against patients' medical records)

  9. satisfaction with outcome

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    The Breast-Q subscale Satisfaction with Breast measures body image in terms of a woman's satisfaction with her breasts. It consists of 4 to 16 items (depending on the type of surgery), rated on a 4 point Likert-type scale (very dissatisfied - very satisfied). The subsample of women who opted for breast reconstruction also completes the Breast-Q subscale Satisfaction with Breast Outcome (7 items, 3 point Likert-type scale (disagree - completely agree)), measuring a woman's overall appraisal of the outcome of her breast surgery. For both subscales, scores range from 0 -100, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction.

  10. body image

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    Subscale Body Image of the EORTC QLQ-BR23 (4 items, 4 point likert-type scale (not at all - very much), scores range from: 0-100 , a higher score is better.

  11. sexual functioning

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    Subscales of Sexual Functioning (2 items) and Sexual Enjoyment (1 item) of the EORTC-QLQ BR23. Both subscale are rated on a 4 point Likert-type scale (not at all - very much). Scores range from 0-100, a higher score is better.

  12. breast symptoms

    Time frame: 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    Subscale Breast Symptoms (4 items, 4 point Likert-type scale, not at all - very much) of the EORTC QLQ-BR23. Scores range from 0-100, a higher score is worse.

  13. anxiety

    Time frame: 1 week after consultation with a plastic surgeon (T1); 3 months after surgery (T2); 12 months after surgery (T3)

    The short-form of the state scale of the spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), consisting of 6 items, rated on a 4 point Likert-type scale (not at all - very much). Scores range from 20 - 80, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Netherlands Cancer Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • Dutch Cancer Society
  • UMC Utrecht

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of a Web-based Decision Aid for Women Considering Breast Reconstruction: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: TANGO

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jan 2, 2019
Registry last updated
Jun 6, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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