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Showing content from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28410189/ below:

EHealth Acceptance and New Media Preferences for Therapy Assistance Among Breast Cancer Patients

doi: 10.2196/cancer.5711. EHealth Acceptance and New Media Preferences for Therapy Assistance Among Breast Cancer Patients

Affiliations

¹ Breast Center, University Hospital Munich, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, CCC of LMU, Munich, Germany.
² Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V., Munich, Ulm, Germany.
³ Mamazone e.V., Munich, Augsburg, Germany.

PMID: 28410189
PMCID: PMC5369631
DOI: 10.2196/cancer.5711

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EHealth Acceptance and New Media Preferences for Therapy Assistance Among Breast Cancer Patients

Caroline Drewes et al. JMIR Cancer. 2016.

doi: 10.2196/cancer.5711. Affiliations

¹ Breast Center, University Hospital Munich, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, CCC of LMU, Munich, Germany.
² Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V., Munich, Ulm, Germany.
³ Mamazone e.V., Munich, Augsburg, Germany.

PMID: 28410189
PMCID: PMC5369631
DOI: 10.2196/cancer.5711

Item in Clipboard

Abstract

Background: Electronic health (eHealth) and mobile communication-based health care (mHealth) applications have been increasingly utilized in medicine over the last decade, and have facilitated improved adherence to therapy regimens in patients with chronic conditions. Due to the long duration of breast cancer therapy, and the long course of disease in metastatic breast cancer, a need for more intensified physician-patient communication has emerged. Various support mechanisms, including new media such as mHealth and eHealth, have been proposed for this purpose.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between sociodemographic factors, as well as health status of breast cancer patients, and their current utilization of new media, or their willingness to use Internet and mobile phone apps for improvement of therapy management.

Methods: The survey for this study was conducted anonymously during the 2012 Mamazone Projekt Diplompatient meeting (Augsburg, Germany), which hosted approximately 375 participants per day. A total of 168 questionnaires were completed. The questionnaire aimed to assess sociodemographic status, disease patterns, and current use of new media (ie, Internet, mobile phone, and mobile phone apps) in breast cancer patients. Habits and frequency of use for these new technologies, as well as patients' affinity towards eHealth and mHealth tools for therapy management improvement, were investigated.

Results: Almost all participants used the Internet (95.8%, 161/168), with 91.5% (151/165) also utilizing this technology for health-related issues. Approximately 23% (38/168) of respondents owned a mobile phone. When asked about their preferences for therapy assistance, 67.3% (113/168) of respondents were interested in assistance via the Internet, 25.0% (42/168) via mobile phone, and 73.2% (123/168) via call center. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer <5 years before the survey were significantly more interested in a call center than patients diagnosed >5 years before survey participation.

Conclusions: The vast majority of breast cancer patients accept the Internet for therapy assistance, which indicates that eHealth is a promising medium to improve patient-physician communication. Such technologies may improve individual disease management and ultimately lead to an enhanced adherence to therapy regimens.

Keywords: adherence; breast cancer; compliance; eHealth; mHealth; new media; therapy improvement.

©Caroline Drewes, Thomas Kirkovits, Daniel Schiltz, Timo Schinkoethe, Renate Haidinger, Ursula Goldmann-Posch, Nadia Harbeck, Rachel Wuerstlein. Originally published in JMIR Cancer (http://cancer.jmir.org), 14.09.2016.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures
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Breast cancer patients’ interests in…

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Breast cancer patients’ interests in further interaction with new media. a) those who…

Figure 1

Breast cancer patients’ interests in further interaction with new media. a) those who call and receive information about your condition; b) those who pass forward information to your physician.