Abstract P1-11-01: eHealth in modern patient-caregiver-communication: High rate of modern media use in physicians as well as breast cancer patients
Authors: Wuerstlein R , Kirkovits T , Drewes C , Bauerfeind I , Goldmann-Posch U , Roedder P , Peine A-C , Schiltz D , Harbeck N , Schinkoethe T 
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Implementation of oral and s.c. medications for breast cancer (BC) led to new challenges for patients and physicians regarding optimal and continuous communication. For patients, irregular physician contact and communication is the challenge with more liberty and treatment self-management. For oncologists, lack of surveillance and counseling time is associated with these drug administration forms. Since regular physician contact is not mandatory as with standardized i.v. schedules, patients’ questions regarding treatment may not be answered in a timely fashion, side effects not be treated adequately. To close the gaps between each face to face consultation, to improve the doctor-patient relationship and to enhance patient compliance, new ways of communication, including eHealth and web-based programs, may thus be useful. The objective of our investigation is to evaluate actual use of internet and modern media (e.g. smartphones) in BC patients and their healthcare professionals.

Methods: We designed anonymous questionnaires (33 items) for patients and physicians. Both questionnaires analyze frequency and behavior of use of internet and modern media, available equipment at patients’ homes and doctors’ offices and opinions on future eHealth tools. Data also include age, sex, place of living, workplace, and modern media use in health related questions. Patients were asked to answer the questionnaire before consultations and at a BC patient conference (Mamazone, Augsburg 2012). Health care specialists were asked to complete the questionnaire at several regional BC meetings.

Results: So far, questionnaires have been completed by 120 BC-specialists and 631 patients. Up to the age of 50, 89% of patients use internet for health related issues. Even above age 70, more than the half use internet for health related purposes. Among doctors, 98% use internet for medical issues. Implementation of potential future eHealth tools would be highly accepted in both groups.

Table 1 patientsdoctorsNumber of participants631120internet usage in general92.7% (494/534)100% (119/119)internet usage for health related issues77.2% (461/597)98.3% (118/120)wish for support for patients via internet / via smartphone / via callcenter53.8% (276/513) / 24.2% (129/492) / 61.7% (311/521)66.4% (88/119) / 51.3% (60/117) / 49.1% (57/116)registration of side effects via electronic devices41.4% (204/497)71.2% (84/118)

Discussion: This survey shows a high rate of internet and modern media use among BC physicians and their patients, the latter surprisingly also in higher age-groups. Physicians and patients could well imagine web-based therapy support. In both groups, the additional possibility to regularly record side effects and manage them without face to face meetings is favored by a majority. The routine use of internet and modern media and trust in new interactive communication tools in both groups, may enable improvements in doctor-patient-relationship, compliance and adherence in oncology. Our data, which represent the first BC-specific survey, suggest that eHealth-tools may have a promising future in communication and treatment of BC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-11-01.