Digital Technical and Informal Resources of Breast Cancer Patients From 2012 to 2020: Questionnaire-Based...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Digital Health
• Oncology

Background:

• Digitalization presents significant opportunities in healthcare.
• Research on the evolving use of digital resources by breast cancer patients and influencing factors remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the progression of digital, technical, and informal resource utilization in a specific cohort of breast cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 513 breast cancer patients from 2012 to 2020.
• Questionnaires assessed digital device ownership/use, internet access/use, and information-seeking behaviors related to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Main Results:

• Most patients (82.1%) had eHealth-compatible devices, and 57.4% used the internet for information. Willingness to use eHealth solutions was high (89%).
• Online information influenced treatment discussions with doctors (two-thirds) and identified alternative therapies (one-third), with 15.3% reporting therapy changes.
• Digitalization increased but was significantly correlated with younger age, higher education levels, and larger household sizes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding patient demographics and digital resource use is essential for successful implementation of digital health solutions.
• Tailoring digital health strategies to patient characteristics, such as age, education, and living situation, is crucial for equitable access and adoption.