eCoach: Development and Pilot Testing of a Decision Aid for Prostate Cancer
Project Final Report (PDF, 782.01 KB) Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its content, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this report. For assistance, please contact ahrqsection508@ahrq.hhs.gov)
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Project Details -
Completed
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Grant NumberR21 HS021797
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AHRQ Funded Amount$300,000
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Principal Investigator(s)
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Organization
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LocationAtlantaGeorgia
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Project Dates09/30/2012 - 09/29/2015
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Technology
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Care Setting
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Medical Condition
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Population
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Type of Care
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Health Care Theme
Prostate cancer is treated with different approaches, including surgery, radiation, and active surveillance, with similar outcomes but varying side effects. Patient preference is critical for selecting optimal treatment, but research shows discrepancies between patient preferences and actual care received. Shared decisionmaking can lead to better alignment of patient preferences and care received.
Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are computer animated characters that simulate face-to-face conversation. This projected developed an ECA coach, known as eCoach, to provide patients with personalized information in a literacy-sensitive, dynamic fashion. eCoach was developed to support patient decisionmaking, provide evidence-based clinical information, and guide patients with prostate cancer through shared decisionmaking.
The specific aims of this project were as follows:
- Investigate the usability and feasibility of using an ECA, called eCoach, to facilitate shared decisionmaking in men with localized prostate cancer.
- Conduct a pilot study to assess the effect of eCoach on decisional conflict among men with localized prostate cancer.
A pilot study was conducted to solicit input on the design of eCoach from men with prostate cancer and physicians. Physicians expressed the need for an easy-to-use educational tool for men with low-risk prostate cancer. eCoach was feasible to implement and acceptable to all participants. The tool improved understanding of treatment options; however, the men strongly disagreed on depth of information necessary to ensure its effectiveness. Many participants stated a preference to obtain information from their own providers, rather than an ECA. The investigators concluded that “one size does not fit all” regarding patient education needs, and that patient education for prostate cancer must be tailored to the individual.
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Citation: Gillespie T. eCoach: Development and Pilot Testing of a Decision Aid for Prostate Cancer - Final Report. (Prepared by Emory University under Grant No. R21 HS021797). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2015.
Link:
r21hs021797-gillespie-final-report-2015.pdf
(782.01 KB)
The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its content, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this report. For assistance, please contact ahrqsection508@ahrq.hhs.gov)
Principal Investigator: Gillespie, Theresa
Document Type: Report
Technology: Virtual Reality
Population: Decisionmaker, Men
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