One hundred and sixty men stratified by race and education completed a semi-structured interview that included assessments of treatment preferences.
Most men initially and ultimately favored watchful waiting over other options, and 56.6 % never changed their preference rank orders while viewing the videotape. BPH severity in context of treatment risk avoidance, efficacy, and expert opinion factors were frequently cited reasons for preference orders. Lesser education was associated with higher likelihood of changing preferences (r = −.30, p < .001), and percent increase in BPH knowledge pre- to post-videotape was weakly associated with fewer non-dominant preference shifts (r = −.19, p < .05).
Conservatism regarding BPH treatment is moderated by context-specific factors, including new information.
Counseling in a provider–patient partnership model should address both sources of variance in men's treatment preferences.