Optimizing Health Information Technologies for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients and Survivors: Usability Evaluation.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Unmanaged cancer symptoms and treatment-related side effects can compromise long-term clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life. Health information technologies such as web-based platforms offer the possibility to supplement existing care and optimize symptom management.Objective
This paper describes the development and usability of a web-based symptom management platform for cancer patients and survivors that will be implemented within a large health system.Methods
A web-based symptom management platform was designed and evaluated via one-on-one usability testing sessions. The System Usability Scale (SUS), After Scenario Questionnaire (ASQ), and qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews were used to assess program usability.Results
Ten cancer survivors and five cancer center staff members participated in usability testing sessions. The mean score on the SUS was 86.6 (SD 14.0), indicating above average usability. The mean score on the ASQ was 2.5 (SD 2.1), indicating relatively high satisfaction with the usability of the program. Qualitative analyses identified valued features of the program and recommendations for further improvements.Conclusions
Cancer survivors and oncology care providers reported high levels of acceptability and usability in the initial development of a web-based symptom management platform for cancer survivors. Future work will test the effectiveness of this web-based platform.
SUBMITTER: Lattie EG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7536600 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Optimizing Health Information Technologies for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients and Survivors: Usability Evaluation.
Lattie Emily G EG Bass Michael M Garcia Sofia F SF Phillips Siobhan M SM Moreno Patricia I PI Flores Ann Marie AM Smith J D JD Scholtens Denise D Barnard Cynthia C Penedo Frank J FJ Cella David D Yanez Betina B
JMIR formative research 20200921 9
<h4>Background</h4>Unmanaged cancer symptoms and treatment-related side effects can compromise long-term clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life. Health information technologies such as web-based platforms offer the possibility to supplement existing care and optimize symptom management.<h4>Objective</h4>This paper describes the development and usability of a web-based symptom management platform for cancer patients and survivors that will be implemented within a large health system ...[more]
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Project description:ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility and usability of EnergyPoints™, an innovative mobile health app that teaches and guides people with cancer to implement daily acupressure to self-manage their fatigue and sleep disturbances.Methods and interventionThe study used an integrated agile, human-centered approach. Adults (age 18 years and over) with cancer experiencing at least moderate fatigue, and living in the Greater New York City community, were recruited from social media, patient advocacy groups, and referrals. Twenty participants (in 3 sprints of 3, 5, and 12) were video-recorded thinking aloud while using the app for the first time. They then used the app at home to self-administer acupressure (twice daily for 1 week) while continuously wearing a fitness tracker. Each participant completed an exit interview and modified Computer System Usability Questionnaire post-participation.ResultsParticipants were ages 40 to 76 years and 65% female; 65% were non-Hispanic white. Mean pass rates per ritual exceeded 80%. Users completed (totally or partially) greater than 90% of stimulating acupressure and 70% of relaxing acupressure rituals. Sprint 3 SPs totally completed at least 1 ritual 87% of the time. The majority agreed or strongly agreed the app was easy to use (90%), easy to learn (85%), easy to understand (75%), and effective in helping perform self-acupressure (85%). In an analysis of ease of completing 5 key tasks, all successfully completed the tasks; 3 users required some assistance. Of 654 usability statements, those coded as personal experience/context (197), content related to acupressure learning (105), and content related to the onboarding/profile (71) were most frequent. The design team integrated recommendations into the app before the next sprint.ConclusionsFindings supported feasibility and usability, as well as acceptability, and led to significant alterations and improvements. EnergyPoints™ offers an opportunity to mainstream acupressure and help cancer survivors self-manage their symptoms.
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