Coping with cancer: a Web-based educational program for early and middle adolescents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Education

Background:

• Nurses face time constraints and staff shortages, limiting their ability to adequately prepare pediatric cancer patients for treatment.
• Adolescents often turn to the internet for health information, but this information can be outdated or inaccurate.
• The internet is a preferred source for adolescents due to its accessibility, confidentiality, and perceived lack of threat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an innovative, interactive web-based educational program for adolescents undergoing cancer treatment.
• To provide accurate and readily available information to early and middle adolescents with cancer.
• To enhance patient knowledge of cancer, treatment, and coping strategies.

Main Methods:

• The "Coping With Cancer" program was developed based on in-depth interviews with adolescent cancer survivors and their parents.
• The program is grounded in the transactional model of coping.
• It focuses on enhancing adolescents' understanding of cancer and treatment.

Main Results:

• The study successfully developed and validated an interactive web-based educational program.
• The program, "Coping With Cancer," enhances adolescent knowledge of cancer and treatment.
• It also focuses on promoting healthy coping strategies.

Conclusions:

• The "Coping With Cancer" program serves as an effective resource for pediatric oncology nurses.
• It addresses the need for accurate, accessible patient education for adolescents with cancer.
• The program supports ongoing education and empowers adolescents during treatment.