Supportive Digital Health Service During Cancer Chemotherapy : Single-Arm Before-and-After Feasibility Study

• Published in: JMIR Formative Research
• Main Authors: Friðriksdóttir, Nanna, Ingadóttir, Brynja, Skuladottir, Kristin, Zoéga, Sigríður, Gunnarsdóttir, Sigríður
• Other Authors: Other departments, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/4661; https://doi.org/10.2196/50550

©Nanna Fridriksdottir, Brynja Ingadottir, Kristin Skuladottir, Sigridur Zoëga, Sigridur Gunnarsdottir. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 22.12.2023. BACKGROUND: Digital supportive cancer care is recommended to improve patient outcomes. A portal was designed and embedded within the electronic medical record and public health portal of Iceland, consisting of symptom and needs monitoring, educational material, and messaging. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess (1) portal feasibility (adoption, engagement, usability, and acceptability), (2) potential predictors of usability and acceptability, and (3) the potential impact of the portal on patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: This was a single-arm, before-and-after feasibility study at a university hospital among patients with cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy. Participation included filling out the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Revised (ESASr) weekly and the Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DT&PL) 3 times; reading educational material and messaging; and completing study questionnaires. Clinical and portal engagement data were collected from medical records. Data from patients were collected electronically at baseline and 7 to 10 days after the third chemotherapy round. Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale (score 0-100), and acceptability was assessed using a 35-item survey (score 1-5). Patient-reported outcome measures included ESASr and DT&PL; a single-item scale for quality of life, family support, and quality of care; and multi-item scales for health literacy (Brief Health Literacy Screener), health engagement (Patient Health Engagement Scale), self-care self-efficacy (Self-Care Self-Efficacy scale), symptom interference (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory), knowledge expectations (Hospital Patients' Knowledge Expectations), and received knowledge (Hospital Patients' Received Knowledge). Health care professionals were interviewed regarding portal feasibility. RESULTS: The portal ...