Online Educational Tool to Promote Bone Health in Cancer Survivors. Issue 10 (3rd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: des Bordes, Jude K. A.; Suarez-Almazor, Maria E.; Volk, Robert J.; Lu, Huifang; Edwards, Beatrice; Lopez-Olivo, Maria A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of health communication. Volume 22:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 808
• Page End: 817
• Publication Date: 2017-10-03
• Subjects: Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; 610.14
• DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2017.1360415
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-0730

Abstract

Abstract : Osteoporosis burden is significant in cancer survivors. Websites providing health information abound, but their development, quality, and source of information remain unclear. Our aim was to use a systematic and transparent approach to create an educational website on bone health, and to evaluate its potential to improve knowledge, self-management, and awareness in prostate cancer (PCa) and breast cancer (BCa) survivors. Guided by the Health Belief Model, we created a website using international standards and evaluated it in 10 PCa and 10 BCa survivors with self-administered questionnaire before, after, and 1 month after navigating the website. The mean scores on the knowledge questionnaire at baseline, postintervention and 1 month were, respectively, 5.1 (±2.0), 6.9 (±2.5), and 6.7 (±2.4), p < .008, in PCa and 3.4 (±2.7), 7.6 (±3.0), and 6.5 (±3.8), p = .016, in BCa survivors. Acceptability ratings ranged from 60% to 100%. Participants found the website useful, helpful, and able to raise bone health awareness. Our website improved bone health knowledge in both PCa and BCa survivors. A systematic and transparent approach to the development of online educational websites could result in a tool capable of meeting the educational needs of targeted consumers. Cancer survivors could benefit from proven online educational tools.