TY - JOUR
T1 - Information presentation and decisions to enter clinical trials: a hypothetical trial of hormone replacement therapy
AU - Wragg, JA
AU - Robinson, Elizabeth J
AU - Lilford, Richard
PY - 2000/8/1
Y1 - 2000/8/1
N2 - We examined recruitment to an imaginary trial of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following two different styles of information about HRT. We predicted that for treatments which, like HRT, are available outside a trial, people offered the facts as currently known would be less likely to remain unsure about the relative costs and benefits, and so less likely to agree to enter a randomised trial. In contrast, when the information provided reflected the current state of uncertainty which justified the trial, we predicted that people would be less likely to form a preference for one treatment arm over the other, and so more likely to agree to enter a trial. One hundred women aged 25-40 years were informed about HRT via a video and an information leaflet. For half the participants the information was framed in a way which emphasised the current state of uncertainty about the relative costs and benefits of HRT, and in that respect it reflected the justification for a trial. This version was considered to be similar in style to information commonly provided to potential trial participants. For half the participants the same information was framed in a way which offered explicit numerical detail about currently known facts, and in that respect it was considered to be similar in style to information commonly available to doctors prior to a trial. Women learned as much about HRT in the two conditions, but women given the explicit versions were more likely (i) to hold a stronger view about whether or not they would take HRT (ratings were not elicited from the first 30 participants in this condition. N = 20, p <0.05 1 tailed) and (ii) to refuse entry to the trial (N = 50, p <0.05 2 tailed). Those who, given the explicit version, agreed rather than refused to enter the trial, scored higher on believing that others control their health (p <0.01 2 tailed).
AB - We examined recruitment to an imaginary trial of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following two different styles of information about HRT. We predicted that for treatments which, like HRT, are available outside a trial, people offered the facts as currently known would be less likely to remain unsure about the relative costs and benefits, and so less likely to agree to enter a randomised trial. In contrast, when the information provided reflected the current state of uncertainty which justified the trial, we predicted that people would be less likely to form a preference for one treatment arm over the other, and so more likely to agree to enter a trial. One hundred women aged 25-40 years were informed about HRT via a video and an information leaflet. For half the participants the information was framed in a way which emphasised the current state of uncertainty about the relative costs and benefits of HRT, and in that respect it reflected the justification for a trial. This version was considered to be similar in style to information commonly provided to potential trial participants. For half the participants the same information was framed in a way which offered explicit numerical detail about currently known facts, and in that respect it was considered to be similar in style to information commonly available to doctors prior to a trial. Women learned as much about HRT in the two conditions, but women given the explicit versions were more likely (i) to hold a stronger view about whether or not they would take HRT (ratings were not elicited from the first 30 participants in this condition. N = 20, p <0.05 1 tailed) and (ii) to refuse entry to the trial (N = 50, p <0.05 2 tailed). Those who, given the explicit version, agreed rather than refused to enter the trial, scored higher on believing that others control their health (p <0.01 2 tailed).
U2 - 10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00477-3
DO - 10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00477-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 10855931
SN - 1873-5347
VL - 51
SP - 453
EP - 462
JO - Social Science & Medicine
JF - Social Science & Medicine
IS - 3
ER -