Internet Access and Use by Patients with Gynecologic Malignancies: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Digital Health
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Digitalization is transforming healthcare delivery and patient engagement.
• Understanding patient adoption of digital tools is crucial for modern oncology.
• Gynecologic cancer patients' digital engagement remains an area for exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the digital landscape of gynecologic cancer patients.
• To evaluate digital device ownership and internet access.
• To determine willingness to engage in novel digital patient-physician interactions.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based cohort study was conducted.
• 150 women with gynecologic malignancy at University Hospital of Cologne participated.
• Data collected from July 2017 to March 2022.

Main Results:

• 94% of patients own at least one internet access device (computer, smartphone, tablet).
• Age is the only significant factor associated with device ownership.
• 92.8% use the internet for disease information; 90.1% for communication.
• High willingness (71.9%-93.6%) exists for e-mail and novel communication methods.

Conclusions:

• The majority of gynecologic cancer patients are digitally connected and accessible.
• E-health technologies offer a viable pathway for enhanced patient-physician communication.
• Digital tools can effectively reach and engage this patient population.