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Shared Decision-Making Aid Impact on Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviors in Older Adults with Low Health Literacy

Trial Status: active

This clinical trial evaluates the effect of a shared-decision aid pamphlet on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening behaviors in older adults with low health literacy (LHL). Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand health information. Patients older than 75 are at a higher risk for LHL and may lack knowledge of CRC screening options. Decision aids (DA) are educational tools that can provide information on the benefits and harms of a decision, such as CRC screening, and can increase shared decision-making (SDM) between patients and doctors to help patients express their preferences and values. DAs have been shown to increase knowledge, clarify personal values about the benefits and harms of decision options and patient participation in SDM, and decrease conflict surrounding decisions (personal uncertainty about which course of action to take). Providing a CRC DA pamphlet may promote screening in those who are healthy and most likely to benefit while discouraging screening in those who are most likely to be harmed from screening procedures and CRC treatment effects.