Development of an Educational Website for Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a serious health problem with high incidence and mortality rates. Surgery is one of the most applicable treatment options in the early stages, and clinical management after surgery is fundamental to the recovery process. Patient-reported outcomes are important to ensure improved care, while education allows patients to actively participate in their treatment. Websites, for example, can be used to educate patients and improve communication and information sharing. In this context, we developed and validated an educational website for lung cancer patients undergoing surgery. The study was carried out in two stages: construction of the educational material and validation of the site. The research resulted in ten materials with educational information. According to data from 20 patients, three main topics emerged: mobility, chest tube, and breathing. For the committee of 20 experts, the following topics were covered: prehabilitation, early mobilization, and smoking and alcohol cessation. The website was developed after the information had been analyzed, coded, and categorized. The content validity index was 0.98 and 0.95, according to the patients and the expert committee, respectively. The website allows immediate access to information and can be used as an educational strategy to complement the verbal guidance provided by health professionals.