Several scientific studies have shown that many women diagnosed with breast cancer each year struggle with the overwhelming amount of information involved and also have a true need for psychological and emotional support. Therefore, researchers at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy worked to develop a Web-based program to guide patients from diagnosis to rehabilitation.
Designed after interviews with women with breast cancer, the program includes input from various experts: doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, and patient representatives. Links to Web sites, book recommendations, and glossaries of medical terms are also included.
“We tackle the questions that crop up before and after the operation, and try to give psychosocial support and provide information on rehabilitation,” says researcher Ingalill Koinberg, who is leading the study at the Sahlgrenska Academy. “The aim is to see whether Internet-based support can help ease breast cancer patients’ anxiety and worries, increase their involvement in their care and help them to help themselves.”
A scientific study of 227 women who had surgery for breast cancer at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Lund University Hospital between 2008 and 2011 is being used to assess the program.
“The Internet support is to be viewed as complementary to standard healthcare and aims to allow patients to get hold of sorted, packaged and quality-assured information at any time of the day or night,” says Koinberg.
Source: University of Gothenburg.
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