Recent study findings defy the perception that older cancer patients do not have access to or are not comfortable using Web-based technology. When given the choice, cancer patients are significantly more likely to use Web-based technology, compared to a paper survey, when answering questions about their quality of life 6 months after treatment, according to a study presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Benjamin Movsas, MD, lead author for the study and chairman of radiation oncology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, said, “This Web-based survey is more convenient and less time-consuming for patients. It provides doctors with the data we need to share with our patients so they can make treatment choices that take into account quality of life issues.”
The prospective study is part of a larger Radiation Therapy Oncology Group randomized trial for early-stage prostate cancer patients that included a quality-of-life questionnaire for which researchers wanted to find a means to increase participation. Between September 2008 and December 2009, 49 prostate cancer patients averaging 64 years of age who possessed an e-mail address were involved in the study. Results showed that when the Web-based technology was presented to patients, the survey compliance rate 6 months after treatment increased from 52% to 90%.
Movsas said, “We plan to use this new Web-based technology in studies for other cancer types, so we can better understand and ultimately improve the quality of life of additional cancer patients.”
Source: ASTRO.