Benefits and harms of aspirin to reduce colorectal cancer risk: a cross-sectional study of methods to communicate risk in primary care
New Australian guidelines recommend that GPs actively consider prescribing low-dose aspirin to patients aged 50–70 years to reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). It is important that both patients and GPs understand the relative benefits and harms of this in order to support informed decision making. This cross-sectional study by PC4 researchers aimed to develop and examine different methods of communicating the benefits and harms of taking aspirin for CRC prevention. Results from over 300 participants suggested that most would take aspirin irrespective of the format with which the risk was presented. Bar charts and expected frequency trees were the formats more strongly associated with intention to take aspirin & bar charts were the most preferred for presenting risk information.Â