Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lessons from a Customer Discovery Study: a Technology-Based Cancer Support Program for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

A culturally tailored technology-based cancer support program was recently developed and tested among Asian American breast cancer survivors. To explore future opportunities to sustain the program, the research team participated in the SPeeding Research-tested INTervention (SPRINT) program sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The purpose of this discussion paper is to share the lessons that the research team gained from a customer discovery study through the SPRINT program.

Methods

During the SPRINT program, a total of 73 stakeholders were recruited through a snowball sampling across the globe. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for customer discovery through WebEX, phone calls, and in-person visits (50 in-person interviews, 4 phone interviews, and 19 WebEx interviews). All the interviews were recorded using audio-taping or writing memos. Also, the research team wrote memos on the issues/concerns related to the project during the interview process. Then, the transcripts and memos were analyzed using a content analysis to provide evidence for the lessons.

Results

The themes reflecting the lessons from the customer discovery study included (a) “who are the stakeholders”; (b) “depending on stakeholders”; (c) “what works or not”; (d) “personal versus family responsibilities”; and (e) “depending on countries’ situations.”

Conclusion

These lessons could provide directions for future development and implementation of technology-based cancer support programs for Asian American breast cancer survivors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Material

The data cannot be shared because no permission to share has been obtained from the funding agency.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Demographics, degrees of Internet access, and health. Published online February 23, 2010. Accessed December 31, 2013. http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Presentations/2006/Fox_UNC_June_2006[1].pdf

  2. Im E-O, Chang SJ (2013) Web-based interventions in nursing. Comput Inform Nurs CIN 31(2):94–102. https://doi.org/10.1097/NXN.0b013e3182771868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fallows D. Pew Internet & American life report. How women and men use the Internet. Published online 2005. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.pewinternet.org/

  4. Pew Internet and American Life Project. 17% of cell phone owners do most of their online browsing on their phone, rather than a computer or other device. Published online 2012. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Cell-Internet-Use-2012.aspx

  5. Im E-O, Lee Y, Ji X et al (2016) Internet recruitment of Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 39(3):E17-27. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANS.0000000000000131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chee W, Ji X, Kim S et al (2019) Recruitment and retention of Asian Americans in web-based physical activity promotion programs: a discussion paper. Comput Inform Nurs CIN 37(9):455–462. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Huey SJ, Tilley JL (2018) Effects of mental health interventions with Asian Americans: a review and meta-analysis. J Consult Clin Psychol 86(11):915–930. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chee W, Lee Y, Im E-O, et al. A culturally tailored Internet cancer support group for Asian American breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled pilot intervention study. J Telemed Telecare. Published online August 2, 2016. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X16658369

  9. Chen J-L, Guedes CM, Lung AE (2019) Smartphone-based healthy weight management intervention for Chinese American adolescents: short-term efficacy and factors associated with decreased weight. J Adolesc Health Off Publ Soc Adolesc Med 64(4):443–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.08.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Im E-O, Kim S, Yang YL, Chee W (2020) The efficacy of a technology-based information and coaching/support program on pain and symptoms in Asian American survivors of breast cancer. Cancer 126(3):670–680. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32579

  11. Howell D, Mayer DK, Fielding R, et al. Management of cancer and health after the clinic visit: a call to action for self-management in cancer care. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst. 2020;(djaa083). doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djaa083

  12. Wait S, Han D, Muthu V et al (2017) Towards sustainable cancer care: reducing inefficiencies, improving outcomes—a policy report from the All Can initiative. J Cancer Policy 13:47–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2017.05.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Berg CJ, Stratton E, Esiashvili N, Mertens A (2016) Young adult cancer survivors’ experience with cancer treatment and follow-up care and perceptions of barriers to engaging in recommended care. J Cancer Educ Off J Am Assoc Cancer Educ 31(3):430–442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-015-0853-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Rubinstein EB, Miller WL, Hudson SV et al (2017) Cancer survivorship care in advanced primary care practices: a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities. JAMA Intern Med 177(12):1726. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.4747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ancker JS, Carpenter KM, Greene P et al (2009) Peer-to-peer communication, cancer prevention, and the internet. J Health Commun 14(Suppl 1):38–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730902806760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kreuter MW, Wray RJ (2003) Tailored and targeted health communication: strategies for enhancing information relevance. Am J Health Behav 27(Suppl 3):S227-232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ashing-Giwa KT, Padilla G, Tejero J et al (2004) Understanding the breast cancer experience of women: a qualitative study of African American, Asian American Latina and Caucasian cancer survivors. Psychooncology 13(6):408–428. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang JH-Y, Gomez SL, Brown RL, et al. Factors associated with Chinese American and White cancer survivors’ physical and psychological functioning. Health Psychol Off J Div Health Psychol Am Psychol Assoc. 2019;38(5):455–465. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000666

  19. Wong CCY, Pan-Weisz BM, Pan-Weisz TM, Yeung NCY, Mak WWS, Lu Q (2019) Self-stigma predicts lower quality of life in Chinese American breast cancer survivors: exploring the mediating role of intrusive thoughts and posttraumatic growth. Qual Life Res Int J Qual Life Asp Treat Care Rehabil 28(10):2753–2760. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02213-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Schaab T, Wagner L (2020) Expanding transnational care networks: comparing caring for families with caring for homes. Glob Netw 20(1):190–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/glob.12257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mingot ES (2020) The gendered burden of transnational care-receiving: Sudanese families across The Netherlands, the UK and Sudan. Gend Place Cult 27(4):546–567. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2019.1611546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lunt N, Smith R, Exworthy M, Horsfall D, Mannion R. Medical tourism: treatments, markets and health system implications: a scoping review. :55.

  23. Sun K. Transnational healthcare seeking: how ageing Taiwanese return migrants view homeland public benefits. Glob Netw. 2014;14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/glob.12050

Download references

Funding

This customer discovery study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Speeding Research-tested INTerventions (SPRINT) Program (DAA3-19–65152-1). The parent study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NCI/NINR; 1R01CA203719).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Wonshik Chee, Sangmi Kim & Eun-Ok Im

  2. Health & Wellness Innovations, Inc, Ann Arbor, USA

    Mia Jang

Authors
  1. Wonshik Chee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sangmi Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mia Jang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eun-Ok Im
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Dr. Wonshik Chee, the Entrepreneur Lead of the customer discovery study and a Co-I of the parent study, designed the study, conducted the data collection and data analysis, and drafted the manuscript; Dr. Sangmi Kim, a Co-I of the customer discovery study, conducted the data collection, and reviewed the manuscript; Dr. Mia Jang, the Business Mentor of the customer discovery study, conducted the data collection, mentored the research team during the SPRINT program, and reviewed the manuscript; and Dr. Eun-Ok Im, PI of the customer discovery study and the parent study designed the study, conducted the data collection and data analysis, and drafted the manuscript with Dr. Wonshik Chee.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eun-Ok Im.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

The customer discovery study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Emory University through the NON-HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH DETERMINATION process. The parent study was approved by Emory University, Institutional Review Board (IRB00117270).

Consent to Participate

All the participants consented to participate in the study through a verbal consent process.

Consent for Publication

All the participants verbally consented to publications without disclosing their identity-related information (e.g., name, other factors that might point to an individual participant).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chee, W., Kim, S., Jang, M. et al. Lessons from a Customer Discovery Study: a Technology-Based Cancer Support Program for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors. J Canc Educ 38, 248–254 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02107-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02107-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation