Abstract
Following demonstrations of success of interactive cancer communication systems (ICCS) for patients, the challenge and opportunity are to integrate such systems with human resources. A randomized trial explored relative benefits of an ICCS, a human cancer information mentor, and a condition combining both. Women with breast cancer (N = 434) were randomized to have access to a tested ICCS (CHESS, the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System), a human cancer information mentor, both interventions, or a control condition providing a computer, training, and Internet access. Both a human mentor and an ICCS version improved health information competence and emotional processing over the Internet control, and the combined condition exceeded either alone. Integrating human and computer-based resources for breast cancer patients benefits them more than either alone.
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Practitioners: Patients can benefit from eHealth interventions during times of health crises without harming clinician-patient relationships.
Policymakers: Breast cancer patients benefit the most with a cost-effective combined eHealth intervention and one-on-one contact by a highly-trained professional.
Researchers: The results point out the difficulties of balancing between internal and external validities.
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Hawkins, R.P., Pingree, S., Baker, T.B. et al. Integrating eHealth with human services for breast cancer patients. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 1, 146–154 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-011-0027-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-011-0027-1