Decision Support Interventions (DESI) for Prostate Cancer Screening – Study 1

We will use a randomized experimental design to compare the effects of 3 different strategies to implement a prostate cancer screening decision support intervention (DESI) with a control condition in primary care in 2 clinical systems - PAMF (Palo Alto Medical Foundation) and UNC. The primary outcomes of interest are men's screening decisions and their subsequent healthcare utilization. Secondary outcomes include the likelihood that they review the DESI and their decision-specific knowledge. The 3 strategies selected by the PAMF and UNC health systems are: (1) mailing men a DESI in DVD; (2) inviting men to participate in a shared (group) medical appointment (SMA) to watch and discuss the DESI with a healthcare provider and other men; and (3) providing men options by inviting them to a SMA while also providing them a DESI in DVD which they can use individually if they are unable or choose not to attend a SMA. The 3 groups will be compared to a control condition that does not receive a DESI but will be encouraged to discuss prostate cancer screening with their physician. Because of its significantly larger patient population, the PAMF site will also evaluate these outcomes by targeting screening-naïve patients on their 50th birthday, when they first become guideline eligible to consider prostate cancer screening.