Development and Utilization of Complementary Communication Channels for Treatment Decision Making and Survivorship Issues Among Cancer Patients: The CIS Research Consortium Experience

Objective: Cancer patients and survivors are assuming active roles in decision-making and digital patient support tools are widely used to facilitate patient engagement. As part of Cancer Information Service Research Consortium's randomized controlled trials focused on the efficacy of eHealth interventions to promote informed treatment decision-making for newly diagnosed prostate and breast cancer patients, and post-treatment breast cancer, we conducted a rigorous process evaluation to examine the actual use of and perceived benefits of two complementary communication channels -- print and eHealth interventions.

Methods: The three Virtual Cancer Information Service (V-CIS) interventions were developed through a rigorous developmental process, guided by self-regulatory theory, informed decision-making frameworks, and health communications best practices. Control arm participants received NCI print materials; experimental arm participants received the additional V-CIS patient support tool. Actual usage data from the web-based V-CIS was also obtained and reported.

Results: Print materials were highly used by all groups. About 60% of the experimental group reported using the V-CIS. Those who did use the V-CIS rated it highly on improvements in knowledge, patient-provider communication and decision-making.

Conclusion: The findings show that how patients actually use eHealth interventions either singularly or within the context of other communication channels is complex.

Practice Implications: Integrating rigorous best practices and theoretical foundations is essential and multiple communication approaches should be considered to support patient preferences.