scholarly journals Pilot Study of Online Information Seeking Behaviors of Low Literacy Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors (Preprint)

10.2196/22809 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Iacobelli ◽  
Ginger Dragon ◽  
Giselle Mazur ◽  
Judith Guitelman
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Online Information Seeking ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Pilot Study of Online Information Seeking Behaviors of Low Literacy Latina Breast Cancer Survivors (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Iacobelli ◽  
Ginger Dragon ◽  
Giselle Mazur ◽  
Judith Guitelman
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Internet Searching ◽  
Search Behaviors ◽  
Literacy Test

BACKGROUND Internet searching has become an increasingly useful tool for seeking health information. However, it is largely textual in nature and written for high literacy populations. Therefore, low literacy Latinas are at a disadvantage when searching online for health-related answers as well as processing online resources. Internet searching presents a problem, as low literacy populations tend to make mistakes while typing, ending up with misleading search results lists. In addition, even if an appropriate result list is displayed, Low literacy Latinas may be challenged in their ability to process the information contained in any individual article from that list. OBJECTIVE The objective of this observational study is to explore and describe the search behaviors of Latina breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. We explore their behaviors with different modalities of querying (voice/text), as well as other factors that present difficulties when searching for, and processing health information online. METHODS We recruited 7 Latina breast cancer survivors, of which 3 brought their caregivers, totaling 10 women. We administered the Health LiTT health literacy test, a demographic survey, and a breast cancer knowledge assessment to each participant. Next, we trained the participants on searching online with either a keyboard or voice. Then, we asked participants to find information about (a) maintaining good spirits after breast cancer; (b) affordability of breast cancer treatment; (c) general information about breast cancer and treatment options; and (d) any lingering issues they had around survivorship. Participants were allowed to search in English and/or Spanish. We video and audio recorded the computer activity of each participant/patient-caregiver (dyad) and coded it for search behaviors. RESULTS Consistent with prior research, we found web articles to be written for a grade level of 11.33 in English and 7.15 in Spanish. We also found that, although most of our participants preferred searching using speech, they struggled with this modality. Speech based search brought up new problems such as incomplete search queries, as the computer considered pauses as an indication of the end of a query. At other times, the participants made side comments, or the computer was still reading results when a new search was started; those comments were then, taken to be part of the search. We also found that participants formulated a query that was very general with the hope that the results would yield useful information about a more specific topic they had in mind. Also, in several occasions participants took notes based on information from the snippets on the result lists, without clicking on any results to read more. Lastly, participants that spent more time reviewing articles were those that scored higher in the health literacy test. CONCLUSIONS Despite the problems of searching using speech, we found a preference for this search modality, which may indicate a need to compensate for potential misspellings and grammatical errors that could appear in written queries. We also found the use of general questions in the hopes that detailed answers will provide information about more specific concerns. Understanding search behaviors and information evaluation strategies of low literacy Latina breast cancer survivors is fundamental for designing useful search interfaces for them to find relevant and reliable information online.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Survivorship Care Plans Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Survivorship Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.

A pilot study of a body image intervention for breast cancer survivors

Body Image ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Lewis-Smith ◽  
Phillippa Claire Diedrichs ◽  
Diana Harcourt
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors

Acupuncture for symptoms management in Korean breast cancer survivors: a prospective pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae-Hun Kim ◽  
Jung Won Kang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Specific Outcome ◽  
Acupuncture Research

Background: There is an unmet need for effective treatment of the various treatment-related symptoms experienced by breast cancer survivors. These symptoms could be alleviated by acupuncture. Although several lines of evidence in Western countries suggest that acupuncture has a beneficial effect on symptoms in breast cancer survivors, few relevant studies have been conducted in Korean patients. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of acupuncture for a variety of treatment-related symptoms in Korean breast cancer survivors. Method: From October 2015 to March 2016, we recruited patients who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and subsequently reported symptoms, including aromatase inhibitor-related knee pain, vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and post-mastectomy pain in the chest wall or shoulder. The women received 4 weeks of symptom-specific acupuncture followed by a further 4 weeks of follow-up to evaluate the feasibility of acupuncture for this indication, and its impact on common and symptom-specific outcome variables. Results: Eight study participants were recruited over a period of 6 months, six of whom completed the planned acupuncture treatment and follow-up assessments. A total of 78 acupuncture sessions were performed. We found that acupuncture was feasible, with only six minor self-limiting acupuncture-related adverse events. Most of the women felt that they had benefitted from participation in the study. The preliminary analysis indicated improvement in common symptom-specific outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that acupuncture is feasible, but low recruitment rates should be considered when considering future acupuncture research in Korean breast cancer survivors. Rigorous evaluation of this symptomatic treatment strategy is now needed in the Korean population.

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