Die Ärzte: The Impact of Online CRC-Screening Training on Patient Decision-Making

Understanding the Study on CRC-Screening Training

Boston. Die Ärzte are faced with challenging decisions regarding the appropriateness of colorectal cancer screening (CRC) for adults over 75. A recent study evaluated whether online training for shared decision-making (SDM) among primary care physicians would increase patient concordance with their preferred screening method. The results indicated no significant impact from the training when compared to no SDM education (JAMA Netw Open 2024, online August 23).

Key Findings

• Primary Analysis: The study included 59 primary care physicians with an average of 21 years of experience and 466 patients with an average age of 80.3.
• Patient Preferences: Most patients preferred stool tests (34.5%), followed by colonoscopy (24.8%) or no further screening (20.8%).
• After 12 months, screening adherence rates were similar across both groups (50.9% vs. 46.2%).

Implications of the Findings

Significantly higher concordance was noted among patients who were determined to pursue their preferred approach and those who discussed their screening longer than five minutes with their doctors. Higher rates were also observed during screening discussions of two to five minutes, although these results were not statistically significant.

Conversations about potentially stopping cancer screenings are becoming increasingly important amid an aging population. Hence, further research is warranted to enhance the quality of medical decisions made collaboratively with patients.