Abstract
BackgroundThe instantaneous spread of information, low costs, and broad availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) make them an attractive platform for managing care, patient communication, and medical interventions in cancer treatment. There is little information available in Latin America about the level of usage of ICTs for and by cancer patients. Our study attempts to fill this gap.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the level of ICT use and patterns of preferences among cancer patients.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey study in 500 Ecuadorian cancer patients. This questionnaire consisted of 22 items about demographic and clinical data, together with the preferences of people who use ICTs. Chi-square, crude, and adjusted logistic regressions were performed.ResultsOf the total, 43.2% (216/500) of participants reported that they had access to the Internet, and 25.4% (127/500) reported that they neither owned a cell phone nor did they have access to the Internet. The Internet constituted the highest usage rate as a source of information about malignant diseases (74.3%, 162/218) regardless of age (P<.001). With regard to the preferences on how patients would like to use ICTs to receive information about diseases, WhatsApp (66.5%, 145/218) and short message service (SMS) text messaging (61.0%, 133/218) were widely reported as interesting communication channels. Similarly, WhatsApp (72.0%, 157/218) followed by SMS (63.8%, 139/218) were reported as the preferred ICTs through which patients would like to ask physicians about diseases. Adjusted regression analysis showed that patients aged between 40 and 64 years were more likely to be interested in receiving information through SMS (odds ratio, OR 5.09, 95% CI 1.92-13.32), as well as for asking questions to physicians through this same media (OR 9.78, CI 3.45-27.67) than the oldest group.ConclusionsWhatsApp, SMS, and email are effective and widely used ICTs that can promote communication between cancer patients and physicians. According to age range, new ICTs such as Facebook are still emerging. Future studies should investigate how to develop and promote ICT-based resources more effectively to engage the outcomes of cancer patients. The widespread use of ICTs narrows the gap between cancer patients with restricted socioeconomic conditions and those with wealth and easily available technological means, thereby opening up new possibilities in low-income countries.
Highlights
Future studies should investigate how to develop and promote information and communication technologies (ICTs)-based resources more effectively to engage the outcomes of cancer patients
The most common type of malignancy was breast cancer, which was found in 196 patients (39.2%, 196/500; Figure 1)
Our results suggest that short message service (SMS) text messaging for people aged 40 to 64 years is a useful tool for communicating with cancer patients
Summary
ICTs are broadly defined as technologies used to communicate, manipulate, and store data by electronic means [3] These include email, short message service (SMS) text messaging, video chat, Web-based social media, as well as all the different computing devices that perform a wide range of communication and information functions [3]. Web-based communities with low survival rates can provide emotional support, whereas those with high survival rates offer a more informational support [4]. For those looking for social support, blogs have proven to be helpful, especially on patients who become isolated because of physical deterioration or treatment requirements [5]. For those looking for a more informational support, communities might offer advice on what to expect and what to do, or offer recommendations in common problems addressing test results, term definitions, treatment, time courses, side effects, and more [7]
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