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Kirsch EP, Kunte SA, Wu KA, Kaplan S, Hwang ES, Plichta JK, Lad SP. Digital Health Platforms for Breast Cancer Care: A Scoping Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:1937. [PMID: 38610702 PMCID: PMC11012307 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13071937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant global health concern affecting millions of women each year. Digital health platforms are an easily accessible intervention that can improve patient care, though their efficacy in breast cancer care is unknown. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of existing research on the utilization of digital health platforms for breast cancer care and identify key trends and gaps in the literature. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE, Elsevier EMBASE, and Elsevier Scopus databases. The search strategy incorporated keywords related to "digital health platforms", "breast cancer care", and associated terminologies. After screening for eligibility, a total of 25 articles were included in this scoping review. The identified studies comprised mobile applications and web-based interventions. These platforms demonstrated various functionalities, including patient education, symptom monitoring, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support. The findings indicate the potential of digital health platforms in improving breast cancer care and patients' overall experiences. The positive impact on patient outcomes, including improved quality of life and reduced psychological distress, underscores the importance of incorporating digital health solutions into breast cancer management. Additional research is necessary to validate the effectiveness of these platforms in diverse patient populations and assess their impact on healthcare-resource utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elayna P. Kirsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sameer A. Kunte
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kevin A. Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Samantha Kaplan
- Medical Center Library & Archives, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - E. Shelley Hwang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA (J.K.P.)
| | - Jennifer K. Plichta
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA (J.K.P.)
| | - Shivanand P. Lad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Brick R, Padgett L, Jones J, Wood KC, Pergolotti M, Marshall TF, Campbell G, Eilers R, Keshavarzi S, Flores AM, Silver JK, Virani A, Livinski AA, Ahmed MF, Kendig T, Khalid B, Barnett J, Borhani A, Bernard G, Lyons KD. The influence of telehealth-based cancer rehabilitation interventions on disability: a systematic review. J Cancer Surviv 2023; 17:1725-1750. [PMID: 35218521 PMCID: PMC8881759 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-022-01181-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize delivery features and explore effectiveness of telehealth-based cancer rehabilitation interventions that address disability in adult cancer survivors. METHODS A systematic review of electronic databases (CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library: Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, National Health Service's Health Technology Assessment, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted in December 2019 and updated in April 2021. RESULTS Searches identified 3,499 unique studies. Sixty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. There were 81 unique interventions across included studies. Interventions were primarily delivered post-treatment and lasted an average of 16.5 weeks (SD = 13.1). They were most frequently delivered using telephone calls (59%), administered delivered by nursing professionals (35%), and delivered in a one-on-one format (88%). Risk of bias of included studies was primarily moderate to high. Included studies captured 55 measures of disability. Only 54% of reported outcomes had data that allowed calculation of effect sizes ranging -3.58 to 15.66. CONCLUSIONS The analyses suggest small effects of telehealth-based cancer interventions on disability, though the heterogeneity seen in the measurement of disability makes it hard to draw firm conclusions. Further research using more diverse samples, common measures of disability, and pragmatic study designs is needed to advance telehealth in cancer rehabilitation. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS Telehealth-based cancer rehabilitation interventions have the potential to increase access to care designed to reduce disability across the cancer care continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle Brick
- Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
| | - Lynne Padgett
- VA Central Office, Health Services Research and Development, 1100 1st St NE, Suite 6, Washington, DC, 20002, USA
| | - Jennifer Jones
- Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Sr. PMB-B-045, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Kelley Covington Wood
- ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, Select Medical, 4714 Gettysburg Road, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055, USA
| | - Mackenzi Pergolotti
- ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, Select Medical, 4714 Gettysburg Road, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055, USA
| | - Timothy F Marshall
- Ivy Rehab Network, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave, Suite 140, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA
| | - Grace Campbell
- Duquesne University School of Nursing, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Magee, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Rachel Eilers
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Bridgeside Point I, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Sareh Keshavarzi
- Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biostatistics Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ann Marie Flores
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Julie K Silver
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aneesha Virani
- Department of Rehabilitation Services, Northside Hospital, 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA, 30342, USA
| | - Alicia A Livinski
- National Institutes of Health Library, Office of Research Services, OD, NIH, MSC 1150, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mohammed Faizan Ahmed
- Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Sr. PMB-B-045, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Tiffany Kendig
- ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, Select Medical, 4714 Gettysburg Road, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055, USA
| | - Bismah Khalid
- Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1VT, Canada
| | - Jeremy Barnett
- George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Anita Borhani
- Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Sr. PMB-B-045, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Graysen Bernard
- Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Sr. PMB-B-045, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Kathleen Doyle Lyons
- Department of Occupational Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 79/96, 79 13th Street, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
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Gyawali B, Bowman M, Sharpe I, Jalink M, Srivastava S, Wijeratne DT. A systematic review of eHealth technologies for breast cancer supportive care. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 114:102519. [PMID: 36736125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer places a substantial burden on patient physical and mental wellbeing, and the delivery of high-quality supportive care is essential at all stages of the disease. Given the increased uptake of technology in recent years, eHealth interventions may be a convenient and accessible method for supportive care. Within this context, we conducted a systematic review to describe and quantify the use of eHealth for breast cancer supportive care. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases for primary research studies published from 2016 to 2021 (present) that assessed the effects of eHealth interventions on adult patients with breast cancer. We explored the effects of the interventions on patient symptoms, lifestyle, satisfaction, and barriers, as well as factors related to feasibility and implementation. The risk of bias of each study was also assessed. Findings were presented according to stage of cancer care. We identified 43 relevant studies capturing n = 6,285 patients (30 randomized controlled trials and 13 non-randomized interventional studies); 5 evaluated patients who were newly diagnosed, 16 evaluated patients undergoing active treatment, and 22 evaluated patients in post-treatment follow-up. A total of 19 studies used mobile apps, 18 used online patient portals, 5 used text messaging, and 1 used both a patient portal and text messaging. We found that patients were broadly satisfied with the eHealth interventions; however, findings were less consistent for symptom and lifestyle-related outcomes. Eight studies were judged as high risk of bias. There was substantial between-study heterogeneity, which made it challenging to discern consistent trends. Overall, future research should continue to explore the use of eHealth for breast cancer supportive care, with a focus on improving patient symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishal Gyawali
- Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Meghan Bowman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Isobel Sharpe
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Matthew Jalink
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | | | - Don Thiwanka Wijeratne
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Meneses ADFP, Pimentel FF, da Cruz JPF, Candido Dos Reis FJ. Experiences of Women With Breast Cancer Using Telehealth: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Clin Breast Cancer 2023; 23:101-107. [PMID: 36464603 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm among women. Its treatment comprises different strategies. Telehealth can ensure continuity of care in distant locations. This study aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence of women's experiences with telehealth during the treatment and follow-up of breast cancer. We performed a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. The databases included in the search were: Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHAL, and Web of Science. The search combined the terms: breast cancer, telemedicine, telehealth, and qualitative study. The studies included were: qualitative design and mixed methods studies with qualitative components. The COREQ Checklist assisted in assessing the quality of included studies and an adaptation of thematic analysis for the qualitative meta-synthesis. We included twelve articles in the review. In the meta-synthesis, 3 themes emerged. (1) Structure: simple design and space to obtain information but in need of adjustments. (2) Usability: about the benefits and limitations of telehealth. (3) Interaction with health professionals. Telehealth is an accepted strategy for the clinical care of women with breast cancer. Patients identified the need for improvements in structure, usability, and interaction. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number CRD42021228326, registered 06/02/2021.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franklin Fernandes Pimentel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Ferreira da Cruz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
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Kukafka R, Kim S, Kim SH, Yoo SH, Sung JH, Oh EG, Kim N, Lee J. Digital Health Interventions for Adult Patients With Cancer Evaluated in Randomized Controlled Trials: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e38333. [PMID: 36607712 PMCID: PMC9862347 DOI: 10.2196/38333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital care has become an essential component of health care. Interventions for patients with cancer need to be effective and safe, and digital health interventions must adhere to the same requirements. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify currently available digital health interventions developed and evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting adult patients with cancer. METHODS A scoping review using the JBI methodology was conducted. The participants were adult patients with cancer, and the concept was digital health interventions. The context was open, and sources were limited to RCT effectiveness studies. The PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, Research Information Sharing Service, and KoreaMed databases were searched. Data were extracted and analyzed to achieve summarized results about the participants, types, functions, and outcomes of digital health interventions. RESULTS A total of 231 studies were reviewed. Digital health interventions were used mostly at home (187/231, 81%), and the web-based intervention was the most frequently used intervention modality (116/231, 50.2%). Interventions consisting of multiple functional components were most frequently identified (69/231, 29.9%), followed by those with the self-manage function (67/231, 29%). Web-based interventions targeting symptoms with the self-manage and multiple functions and web-based interventions to treat cognitive function and fear of cancer recurrence consistently achieved positive outcomes. More studies supported the positive effects of web-based interventions to inform decision-making and knowledge. The effectiveness of digital health interventions targeting anxiety, depression, distress, fatigue, health-related quality of life or quality of life, pain, physical activity, and sleep was subject to their type and function. A relatively small number of digital health interventions specifically targeted older adults (6/231, 2.6%) or patients with advanced or metastatic cancer (22/231, 9.5%). CONCLUSIONS This scoping review summarized digital health interventions developed and evaluated in RCTs involving adult patients with cancer. Systematic reviews of the identified digital interventions are strongly recommended to integrate digital health interventions into clinical practice. The identified gaps in digital health interventions for cancer care need to be reflected in future digital health research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sanghee Kim
- College of Nursing and Mo-im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei Evidence Based Nursing Center of Korea: Affiliation of the Joanna Briggs Institution, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Kim
- Department of Nursing, Inha University, Inchon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hee Yoo
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Sung
- College of Nursing, Kosin University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui Geum Oh
- College of Nursing and Mo-im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei Evidence Based Nursing Center of Korea: Affiliation of the Joanna Briggs Institution, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nawon Kim
- Yonsei Medical Library, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Lee
- College of Nursing and Mo-im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei Evidence Based Nursing Center of Korea: Affiliation of the Joanna Briggs Institution, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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A Digital Cancer Ecosystem to Deliver Health and Psychosocial Education as Preventive Intervention. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153724. [PMID: 35954388 PMCID: PMC9367518 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Health education and psychosocial interventions prevent emotional distress, and the latter has been shown to have an impact on survival. In turn, digital health education interventions may help promote equity by reaching a higher number of cancer patients, both because they avoid journeys to the hospital, by and having a better efficiency. A total of 234 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer in a comprehensive cancer center used the digital ecosystem ICOnnecta’t from March 2019 to March 2021. ICOnnecta’t consists of four care levels, provided to patients according to their level of distress. The second level of this intervention consists of an educational campus, which was analyzed to track users’ interests and their information-seeking behavior. Overall, 99 out of 234 women (42.3%) used the educational campus. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables between the campus users and non-users. Among users, the median number of resources utilized per user was four (interquartile range: 2−9). Emotional and medical resources were the contents most frequently viewed and the audiovisual format the most consulted (p < 0.01). Resources were used mainly within the first three months from enrolment. Users who were guided to visit the virtual campus were more active than spontaneous users. Offering an early holistic health educational platform inside a digital cancer ecosystem, with health professionals involved, can reach more patients, promoting equity in the access of cancer information and prevention, from the very beginning of the disease.
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Singleton AC, Raeside R, Hyun KK, Partridge SR, Di Tanna GL, Hafiz N, Tu Q, Tat-Ko J, Sum SCM, Sherman KA, Elder E, Redfern J. Electronic Health Interventions for Patients With Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. J Clin Oncol 2022; 40:2257-2270. [PMID: 35500200 PMCID: PMC9273371 DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.01171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ongoing supportive care using electronic health (eHealth) interventions has the potential to provide remote support and improve health outcomes for patients with breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of eHealth interventions on patient-reported outcomes (quality of life [QOL], self-efficacy, and mental or physical health) for patients during and after breast cancer treatment and patient-reported experience measures (acceptability and engagement). METHODS Systematic review with meta-analyses (random-effects model) of randomized controlled trials was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Nine databases were searched using a prespecified search strategy. Patient-directed eHealth interventions for adult patients during or after active breast cancer treatment measuring QOL, self-efficacy, and mental (depressive, anxiety, and distress symptoms) or physical (physical activity, nutrition, and fatigue) health outcomes were included. Data from eligible full-text articles were independently extracted by six observers. RESULTS Thirty-two unique studies (4,790 patients) were included. All were health self-management interventions, and most were multicomponent (videos, forums, and electronic reminder systems) websites. Meta-analyses revealed a significant effect of eHealth interventions on QOL (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.20 [95% CI, 0.03 to 0.36]), self-efficacy (SMD, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.65]), distress (SMD, -0.41 [95% CI,-0.63 to -0.20]), and fatigue (SMD, -0.37 [95% CI, -0.61 to -0.13]). Twenty-five studies (78.1%) measured patient-reported experience measures. Acceptability (n = 9) was high, with high ratings for satisfaction (range, 71%-100%), usefulness (range, 71%-95%), and ease-of-use (range, 73%-92%). Engagement (n = 25) decreased over time, but disease-focused information and interactive support were most engaging. CONCLUSION eHealth interventions may provide an acceptable and effective strategy for improving QOL, distress, self-efficacy, and fatigue among patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. Singleton
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Anna C. Singleton, PhD, Level 6 Block K Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2753, Australia; Twitter: @DrAnnaSingleton; e-mail:
| | - Rebecca Raeside
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karice K. Hyun
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Department of Cardiology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephanie R. Partridge
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gian Luca Di Tanna
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of NSW, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nashid Hafiz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qiang Tu
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Justin Tat-Ko
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephanie Che Mun Sum
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kerry A. Sherman
- Department of Psychology, Center for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elisabeth Elder
- Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julie Redfern
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,The George Institute for Global Health, University of NSW, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
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Stege H, Schneider S, Forschner A, Eigentler T, Nashan D, Huening S, Meiss F, Lehr S, Kaatz M, Kuchen R, Kaehler KC, Haist M, Huebner J, Loquai C. eHealth Literacy in German Skin Cancer Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148365. [PMID: 35886215 PMCID: PMC9320579 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The global incidence of skin cancer has steadily increased in recent years, and malignant melanoma still has one of the fastest-growing incidence rates among all malignant tumors in the western world. Thus, newly diagnosed patients have an increased need for health information concerning their disease. Using a standardized questionnaire, our study aims to investigate our patients’ primary sources of health-related information as well as their self-proclaimed eHealth literacy. We received 714 questionnaires. Regardless of age, the primary source of information was the treating dermato-oncologist, followed by the treating general practitioner and the Internet. However, with increasing age, the usage of the Internet decreased. Hence, younger participants were better equipped to find health-related information while using the Internet. Additionally, comprehending health-related information and gaining medical knowledge was significantly increased in better-educated participants. Overall, our study shows that with increased use of eHealth services, accessing web-based information increased, correlating with a better eHealth literacy of our patients. eHealth technologies are increasingly becoming more prevalent as a primary source of information in our modern health care system. Thus, it is crucial to educate cancer patients in eHealth literacy to make autonomous, informed decisions and gain more confidence in dealing with their disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henner Stege
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (S.S.); (M.H.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sara Schneider
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (S.S.); (M.H.); (C.L.)
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
| | - Thomas Eigentler
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Dorothée Nashan
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Dortmund, 44137 Dortmund, Germany; (D.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Svea Huening
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Dortmund, 44137 Dortmund, Germany; (D.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Frank Meiss
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (F.M.); (S.L.)
| | - Saskia Lehr
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (F.M.); (S.L.)
| | - Martin Kaatz
- Department of Dermatology, Wald-Klinikum Gera, 07546 Gera, Germany;
| | - Robert Kuchen
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Katharina C. Kaehler
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Maximilian Haist
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (S.S.); (M.H.); (C.L.)
| | - Jutta Huebner
- Klinik für Innere Medizin II, Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Carmen Loquai
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (S.S.); (M.H.); (C.L.)
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