Abstract PD12-08: Young, empowered & strong (YES): A web-based education and supportive care intervention for young women with breast cancer across the care continuum

Abstract

Abstract Background: Young women diagnosed with breast cancer have unique physical and psycho-social needs that are often unaddressed. Patient-centered models of care, including eHealth strategies, can help empower young women to self-manage symptoms and psychosocial concerns, as well as support informational needs throughout the cancer care trajectory. Methods: YES (Young, Empowered and Strong) is an interactive web-based portal designed with patient-reported outcome questionnaires (PROs) that trigger delivery of young breast cancer patient-specific education and symptom management materials. Personal journal and messaging components are also available. We piloted the YES portal among young women (<45 years) with newly diagnosed early breast cancer (EBC), breast cancer survivors (BC-S) and women living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), for whom PROs were deployed weekly (EBC, MBC) or every 4 weeks (BC-S) over 12-weeks. At study completion, the use, feasibility and acceptability of the YES portal was assessed via a survey and a structured interview. Results: Thirty women were enrolled between April and June 2019: 10 EBC, 10 BC-S and 10 MBC. Mean age at diagnosis and enrollment was 36 (range 25-44) and 39 (range 31-44) years respectively and 13% (4/30) were non-white. Nearly all participants were receiving treatment (96%, 27/28) including 54% (15/28), endocrine therapy and 43% (12/28), chemotherapy. Overall, 61% (180/296) of PROs deployed were completed, with completion rates highest for EBC patients (EBC: 70%, BC-S: 63%, MBC: 52%). Of 37 PROs domains, the most frequently triggered were sexual health (EBC: 90%, BC-S: 90%, MBC: 90%), anxiety (EBC: 80%, BC-S: 90%, MBC: 90%) and fatigue (EBC: 90%, BC-S: 80%, MBC: 90%). Physical domains and young breast cancer specific domains commonly addressed in clinic (i.e., fertility, genetic testing) were less frequently triggered. The post-pilot survey was answered by 15 participants: 8/15 reported the information shared through YES was helpful, 6/14 felt the portal helped monitor side effects and 8/14 felt the portal helped manage side-effects. Nineteen women completed post-pilot interviews: most women with EBC and MBC said the portal increased symptom awareness and complemented information communicated by providers; the BC-S group more frequently commented that features of the YES portal focusing on symptom monitoring/management would have been more useful when they were earlier in their care (newly diagnosed or undergoing more active treatment). Conclusions: YES, a novel eHealth intervention designed to support young women with breast cancer, is feasible and acceptable to young women across the breast cancer care continuum. The nearly universal triggering of information and support for sexual and mental health suggests sub-optimal management of these issues in the clinical setting and the potential role for self-management through an eHealth platform for this population. Future efforts will aim to evaluate whether provision of information through the YES portal reduces symptom burden and unaddressed needs and concerns in young women with breast cancer. Citation Format: Tal Sella, Craig Snow, Hannah Freeman, Phillip D Poorvu, Shoshana M Rosenberg, Ann H Partridge. Young, empowered & strong (YES): A web-based education and supportive care intervention for young women with breast cancer across the care continuum [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD12-08.