Websites, Websites Everywhere: How Thyroid Cancer Patients Use the Internet
- PDF / 266,371 Bytes
- 7 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 57 Downloads / 172 Views
Websites, Websites Everywhere: How Thyroid Cancer Patients Use the Internet Kimberley Chang 1 & Eric Berthelet 2 & Elizabeth Grubbs 3 & Sarah Hamilton 2 & Anand Karvat 4 & Eric Tran 2 & Jonn Wu 2 & Paris-Ann Ingledew 2
# American Association for Cancer Education 2019
Abstract Thyroid cancer incidence rates and Internet use are both increasing. Thyroid cancer is common in young patients, who are likely to use the Internet. This study aims to characterize thyroid cancer patient Internet use and search patterns, usability of online resources, and effects on clinical care. From May to December 2017, inclusive, patients with thyroid cancer attending two tertiary cancer centers were invited to complete a survey about Internet use. Thirty-nine of 72 questionnaires were returned (54%). Ninety-seven percent of participants used the Internet, and 87% had looked for thyroid cancer information. The majority (94%) searched on Google. Patients most often looked for information about treatment (94%) and symptom management (76%). Many patients evaluated content quality by comparing several resources (71%), discussing with a physician (56%) or using a credible academic or government site (53%). Online information was somewhat hard to understand for 32%, but 91% found it useful. Over half (60%) of treatment decisions were affected by web resources, and information helped 50% of patients make decisions with their physicians. Respondents highlighted a lack of resources on survivorship and uncommon tumors such as medullary or anaplastic cancer. Physicians should recognize that patients overwhelmingly access online information, which often impacts patients’ decision-making. Clinicians can guide thyroid cancer patients through abundant web-based information and assist in interpreting this information. Educators can use this information to guide resource development, tailoring content and design to thyroid cancer patients’ needs. Keywords Internet . Patient education . Thyroid cancer . Online
Introduction Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 29 in Canada and is only
* Paris-Ann Ingledew [email protected] 1
University of British Columbia, MD Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, 317 - 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
2
BC Cancer – Vancouver; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada
3
Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
4
BC Cancer – Surrey; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, 13750 96th Avenue, Surrey, BC V3V 1Z2, Canada
surpassed by breast cancer in the 30- to 49-year-old demographic [1]. These numbers are increasing, and incidence rates are increasing faster than for any other malignancy [1]. In addition, given the excellent prognosis for most thyroid cancer patients [1], the number of survivors will con
Data Loading...
