Table 2.
Clusters, ordered by mean importance, with text of statements, statement numbers and mean importance ratings of statements
| Cluster label | Statement (statement number) | Mean | SD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor-patient exchange | Find a doctor he is comfortable with (54) | 4.50 | 0.86 |
| Find out about all of the possible treatments (50) | 4.32 | 0.90 | |
| Know what care would be needed after treatment (53) | 4.28 | 0.93 | |
| Tell his doctor if there’s something he doesn’t understand (47) | 4.23 | 0.94 | |
| Ask for the information he wants to know (48) | 4.16 | 0.95 | |
| Ask for the most up-to-date information (45) | 4.10 | 1.20 | |
| Ask for a second opinion from another doctor (44) | 4.06 | 1.06 | |
| Ask if it is helpful to use natural or alternative medicine (for example, herbs or acupuncture) to treat his cancer (2) | 3.30 | 1.40 | |
|
| |||
| Big picture comparisons | Find out the survival rates of active treatment and active surveillance. (This means how likely a man is to still be alive five years from diagnosis) (18). | 4.07 | 1.16 |
| Ask about the risk that the cancer will spread during treatment (9) | 4.02 | 1.14 | |
| Find out exactly what would be done during active treatment or active surveillance (17) | 3.99 | 1.02 | |
| Find out if anything can be done about treatment side effects if they happen (10) | 3.90 | 1.09 | |
| Know that active surveillance is also an option (38) | 3.78 | 0.95 | |
|
| |||
| Weighing options | Compare the risks and benefits of active treatment (5) | 4.18 | 0.89 |
| Consider what effects the active treatment might have on his bowel or urinary function (15) | 4.05 | 1.08 | |
| Consider the risk that the cancer may come back after active treatment (8) | 4.06 | 1.02 | |
| Compare the risks and benefits of active surveillance (6) | 4.06 | 0.99 | |
| Know that he will probably live just as long, whether he chooses active treatment or active surveillance (25) | 4.01 | 1.17 | |
| Understand that if he chooses active surveillance, he may feel worried about the cancer spreading (7) | 3.98 | 1.18 | |
| Think about how willing he is to return for frequent exams if he chooses active surveillance (30) | 3.76 | 1.02 | |
| Know that if he chooses active surveillance, he can still change his mind later (20) | 3.72 | 1.24 | |
| Ask whether he’s likely to have a bad health care experience like one he may have had in the past (for example, slow recovery from surgery) (4) | 3.59 | 1.10 | |
| Consider how often and for how long he would need to go to the clinic or hospital (16). | 3.49 | 1.13 | |
|
| |||
| Seeking and using information | Decide how much input he wants from his doctor in the final decision (29) | 4.17 | 0.89 |
| Make sure to get his doctor’s opinion (42) | 4.05 | 0.91 | |
| Realize that he has a choice (39) | 4.05 | 1.00 | |
| Do things to help him remember the information that doctors give him (for example, taking notes, having someone else go with him) (51) | 4.02 | 1.01 | |
| Be willing to talk about which treatment he’d rather have (28) | 3.92 | 1.22 | |
| Get information from other places such as the Internet (49) | 3.85 | 1.04 | |
| Find out about other people’s experiences with early stage prostate cancer, both with active surveillance and active treatment (33) | 3.70 | 1.15 | |
| Talk to another healthcare worker, such as a nurse or promoter/a (43) | 3.28 | 1.20 | |
|
| |||
| Spirituality and inner strength | Think about how his positive frame of mind will help him cope with whatever happens (36) | 4.17 | 1.03 |
| Look to his faith for strength and guidance when making the decision (35) | 4.10 | 1.19 | |
| Consider how much help he will need from family and friends during active treatment and recovery (34) | 3.83 | 1.05 | |
| Consider how family members would feel if he had side effects from active treatment (32) | 3.42 | 1.29 | |
| Consider how family members would feel if he chose active surveillance (31) | 3.37 | 1.19 | |
|
| |||
| Related to active treatment | Be aware that the older he is, the slower the cancer may grow or spread (1) | 3.94 | 1.03 |
| Consider how strongly he feels about doing something right away to get rid of the cancer (22) | 3.92 | 1.29 | |
| Consider how long it will take to recover (19) | 3.91 | 0.99 | |
| Consider that he may be given fewer treatment options, depending on where he lives, his income, or his race/ethnicity (24) | 3.82 | 1.22 | |
| Evaluate how much of the cost of treatment or of active surveillance will have to be paid out of his pocket (e.g., travel costs or co-payments) (21) | 3.70 | 1.36 | |
| Consider the effect that active treatment might have on his ability to have children (12) | 2.98 | 1.66 | |
|
| |||
| Side effects | Consider that active treatment may be harder on him than active surveillance if he is in poor health, has other health conditions, or is older (3) | 4.17 | 1.01 |
| Consider the effects of active treatment on his usual activities (11) | 3.86 | 1.02 | |
| Consider how strongly he feels about avoiding side effects of active treatments (23) | 3.80 | 1.10 | |
| Consider the effect that active treatment might have on his sex life (13) | 3.48 | 1.41 | |
| Consider the effect that active treatment might have on his sense of manhood (14) | 3.23 | 1.48 | |
|
| |||
| Family concerns | Consider what is important both to him and to his loved ones (37) | 4.23 | 1.02 |
| Say what’s important to him in choosing what to do (27) | 4.00 | 1.06 | |
| Make sure loved ones get the information they want (52) | 3.94 | 1.11 | |
| Take as much time as he needs to make the best decision for him (40) | 3.88 | 1.08 | |
| Include family members in making the decision (41) | 3.71 | 1.17 | |
| resist pressure from others about what to do (26) | 3.52 | 1.41 | |
| Ask friends for advice (46) | 2.66 | 1.24 | |