Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study
BackgroundeHealth interventions may represent the way forward in following up patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after hospital discharge to support them in coping with the illness, strengthen their self-management, and increase their quality of life. By involving end user...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-09-01
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| Series: | JMIR Cancer |
| Online Access: | https://cancer.jmir.org/2021/3/e28279 |
| _version_ | 1797735736006410240 |
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| author | Anne Marie Lunde Husebø |
| author_facet | Anne Marie Lunde Husebø |
| author_sort | Anne Marie Lunde Husebø |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundeHealth interventions may represent the way forward in following up patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after hospital discharge to support them in coping with the illness, strengthen their self-management, and increase their quality of life. By involving end users of eHealth in cocreation processes when designing eHealth solutions, an acceptable and relevant product can be secured. Stakeholders’ perspectives could aid in closing the gap between research-developed products and the implementation of eHealth services in real-life scenarios.
ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the views of patients with CRC, their informal caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs) on information technology and the design of eHealth support in CRC care.
MethodsA qualitative, explorative design was used to conduct 31 semistructured individual interviews with 41% (13/31) patients with CRC, 29% (9/31) informal caregivers, and 29% (9/31) HCPs recruited from the gastrosurgical ward of a university hospital in southwestern Norway. A semistructured interview guide was used for data collection, and the data were analyzed by systematic text condensation.
ResultsParticipants described the diverse experiences of patients with CRC seeking web-based information. Age and digital competence were highlighted as influencers of the use of information technology. Patients rarely received advice from HCPs about relevant and secure websites containing information on CRC diagnosis and treatment. Features of desired eHealth interventions in following up patients with CRC were patient education, health monitoring, and communication with HCPs.
ConclusionsSeveral elements affect the activities of patients with CRC seeking health information. Age, inexperience with computer technology, and lack of access to web-based health information may reduce the ability of patients with CRC to engage in decision-making processes regarding illness and treatment. An eHealth service for patients with CRC should comprise features for information, education, and support for self-management and should aim to be individually adapted to the patient’s age and digital competence. Involving end users of eHealth services is necessary to ensure high-quality tailored services that are perceived as user friendly and relevant to the end users. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5eb5a33ff0654effb20a0d57ffff0319 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2369-1999 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-5eb5a33ff0654effb20a0d57ffff03192023-08-28T19:00:49ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Cancer2369-19992021-09-0173e2827910.2196/28279Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview StudyAnne Marie Lunde Husebøhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7476-851X BackgroundeHealth interventions may represent the way forward in following up patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after hospital discharge to support them in coping with the illness, strengthen their self-management, and increase their quality of life. By involving end users of eHealth in cocreation processes when designing eHealth solutions, an acceptable and relevant product can be secured. Stakeholders’ perspectives could aid in closing the gap between research-developed products and the implementation of eHealth services in real-life scenarios. ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the views of patients with CRC, their informal caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs) on information technology and the design of eHealth support in CRC care. MethodsA qualitative, explorative design was used to conduct 31 semistructured individual interviews with 41% (13/31) patients with CRC, 29% (9/31) informal caregivers, and 29% (9/31) HCPs recruited from the gastrosurgical ward of a university hospital in southwestern Norway. A semistructured interview guide was used for data collection, and the data were analyzed by systematic text condensation. ResultsParticipants described the diverse experiences of patients with CRC seeking web-based information. Age and digital competence were highlighted as influencers of the use of information technology. Patients rarely received advice from HCPs about relevant and secure websites containing information on CRC diagnosis and treatment. Features of desired eHealth interventions in following up patients with CRC were patient education, health monitoring, and communication with HCPs. ConclusionsSeveral elements affect the activities of patients with CRC seeking health information. Age, inexperience with computer technology, and lack of access to web-based health information may reduce the ability of patients with CRC to engage in decision-making processes regarding illness and treatment. An eHealth service for patients with CRC should comprise features for information, education, and support for self-management and should aim to be individually adapted to the patient’s age and digital competence. Involving end users of eHealth services is necessary to ensure high-quality tailored services that are perceived as user friendly and relevant to the end users.https://cancer.jmir.org/2021/3/e28279 |
| spellingShingle | Anne Marie Lunde Husebø Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study JMIR Cancer |
| title | Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study |
| title_full | Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study |
| title_fullStr | Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study |
| title_short | Stakeholders’ Perspectives on eHealth Support in Colorectal Cancer Survivorship: Qualitative Interview Study |
| title_sort | stakeholders perspectives on ehealth support in colorectal cancer survivorship qualitative interview study |
| url | https://cancer.jmir.org/2021/3/e28279 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annemarielundehusebø stakeholdersperspectivesonehealthsupportincolorectalcancersurvivorshipqualitativeinterviewstudy |