Enhancing informed choice to undergo health screening: a systematic review.

Source

Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. barbarab@mail.nih.gov.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effectiveness of health screening interventions aimed at enhancing informed choice.

METHODS:

Studies were selected if (1) they were randomized controlled trials conducted between January 1, 2000, and March 30, 2010, (2) participants in one arm underwent a prescreening intervention aimed at improving informed choice, and (3) informed choice was the primary outcome.

RESULTS:

Eight studies that met the inclusion criteria involved screening for prostate, colorectal and breast cancer, and diabetes. Five of the 8 prescreening interventions led to greater informed choice.

CONCLUSIONS:

With researchers mindful of the limited number of studies, findings were encouraging, but conclusions regarding the most effective ways of facilitating informed choice for screening are at best tentative.