Abstract
Purpose
Women living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) face significant distress and unmet needs, yet few resources have been developed for this population. The current study aimed to develop and evaluate the usability of Finding My Way-Advanced (FMW-A), a web-based self-guided psychosocial program for women with MBC.
Methods
FMW-A was co-designed through (a) adapting an efficacious online program for people with curatively treated cancer and (b) receiving iterative rounds of input and feedback from a multidisciplinary co-design team including consumers, clinicians, and academics. A think-aloud protocol was then implemented to test the usability of the resulting 6-module prototype, with women living with MBC accessing up to three modules with an interviewer sitting along-side. Participants were recruited until saturation of themes occurred. Data were analysed thematically.
Results
Participants (n=8) were, on average, 65.3 years old, mostly partnered (n=5), retired (n=6), post-secondary school educated (n=6), and with non-dependent children (n=7). Feedback fell into 6 themes. Positive feedback about FMW-A summarised the supportive and informative nature of the program, supplemented by comments about broadly relatable content. However, one size clearly did not fit all: within themes, diverging experiences emerged regarding navigability, worksheets, and layout. Participants noted that having/making time for the intervention would be important to program engagement.
Conclusions
Usability testing indicated participants found content helpful and relatable, and identified significant pragmatic improvements to be made prior to further testing.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
The development of FMW-A represents an important step in providing acceptable resources to support women living with MBC.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Dr Joseph Coll for his early contributions to the design of the research protocol and to the Finding My Way-Advanced Community Advisory Group for your contributions to the iterative co-design process, consisted of the following members: consumer advocate Robyn Coombes, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Volunteer; Dr Tony Daly, Mr Lincoln Size, and Ms Alana Sparrow, Cancer Council SA; Ms Riki Long and Ms Danielle Spence, Breast Cancer Network Australia. Thanks to the following staff at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network for facilitating recruitment to the study: Sina Vatandoust, Ganessan Kichenadasse, Amitesh Roy, Shawgi Sukumaran, Christos Karapetis, Caroline Richards, and Michael Fizgerald; and to the 8 women living with metastatic breast cancer for giving up your time to usability test the prototype with us.
Funding
This project has been produced with financial and other support of Cancer Council SA’s Beat Cancer Project on behalf of its donors and the State Government of South Australia through the Department of Health. Dr Lisa Beatty is supported by a Cancer Council SA Postdoctoral Fellowship (Cancer Support).
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This study was approved by the Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee (No. 258.18). Informed consent was obtained for all participants.
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The authors declare no competing interests.
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Beatty, L., Koczwara, B., Butow, P. et al. Development and usability testing of a web-based psychosocial intervention for women living with metastatic breast cancer: Finding My Way-Advanced. J Cancer Surviv 15, 403–409 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01019-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01019-5