| There are different ways to treat prostate cancer and BPH, each with possible benefits and harms, such as complications of surgery or the side effects of medicines. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to determine which treatment is most suitable for individual men.
This project has developed decision making tools for patients newly diagnosed with early stage (localised) prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia, to help them to decide between treatment options to determine which option would be most suitable for their circumstances.
The project has also acted as a prototype to develop a methodology for use by other specialities considering the introduction of decision support into their services in the UK. Contact details for core Urology IDM Steering Group:
Project Manager: Jo Finn Johanna.finn@yahoo.co.uk |
Urology Informed Decision Making Project: Project OrganisationThe Urology IDM project has been developed in two phases:
phase 1 took place between 2003 and 2005 under the aegis of Action on Urology, a national programme of the Modernisation Agency. The project set out to evaluate the implementation of a package of US developed decision support materials in four District General Hospitals in England.
The package was introduced into two urology pathways – localised prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using decision support materials developed for the US health market by the Foundation for Medical Informed Decision Making in Boston. The project reported that the decision aids used were helpful in supporting the decision-making process. The evaluation proposed that, subject to further development, the introduction of decision support could achieve significant benefits to patients and the NHS and that the concept should be rolled out nationally across the NHS.
phase 2 of the project has been concerned with preparing a decision support package for the UK health market, written in the light of the phase 1 experience, to be rolled out to achieve the long term expected benefits for patients and for the NHS.
The Project Steering Group established a clear structure for the management of the project:
- An Executive Group, comprising a subset of the Steering Group, to oversee and coordinate the programme of development. The group developed the Business Plan and the project plan.
- Separate Prostate Cancer and BPH groups, to originate new materials: different materials are required for each condition.
- A Training Group, to make the practical arrangements for training at the pilot sites and develop the training materials for roll out
The following structure was established for the second phase of the project:
