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Effect of computer support on younger women with breast cancer

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Assess impact of a computer-based patient support system on quality of life in younger women with breast cancer, with particular emphasis on assisting the underserved.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial conducted between 1995 and 1998.

SETTING: Five sites: two teaching hospitals (Madison, Wis, and Chicago, Ill), two nonteaching hospitals (Chicago, Ill), and a cancer resource center (Indianapolis, Ind). The latter three sites treat many underserved patients.

PARTICIPANTS: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (N=246) under age 60.

INTERVENTIONS: Experimental group received Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS), a home-based computer system providing information, decision-making, and emotional support.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pretest and two posttest surveys (at two- and five-month follow-up) measured aspects of participation in care, social/information support, and quality of life. At two-month follow-up, the CHESS group was significantly more competent at seeking information, more comfortable participating in care, and had greater confidence in doctor(s). At five-month follow-up, the CHESS group had significantly better social support and also greater information competence. In addition, experimental assignment interacted with several indicators of medical underservice (race, education, and lack of insurance), such that CHESS benefits were greater for the disadvantaged than the advantaged group.

CONCLUSIONS: Computer-based patient support systems such as CHESS may benefit patients by providing information and social support, and increasing their participation in health care. These benefits may be largest for currently underserved populations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Received from the Departments of Industrial Engineering and Preventive Medicine, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    David H. Gustafson PhD

  2. the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    Robert Hawkins PhD

  3. the Department of Life Sciences Communication, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    Suzanne Pingree PhD

  4. the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    Fiona McTavish BS

  5. the Department of Educational Psychology, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    Ronald C. Serlin PhD

  6. the Department of Clinical Oncology, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    James Stewart MD

  7. the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    David F. Cella PhD

  8. the Department of Radiation Oncology and The Cancer Program, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis

    Andrew Salner MD

  9. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md

    Neeraj K. Arora PhD

  10. SBC Technology Resources, Inc., Austin, Tex

    John Mendenhall PhD

  11. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, Ill

    David F. Cella PhD

  12. National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill

    Funmi M. Apantaku

  13. Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Conn

    Andrew Salner MD

Authors
  1. David H. Gustafson PhD
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  2. Robert Hawkins PhD
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  3. Suzanne Pingree PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David H. Gustafson PhD.

Additional information

This research was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Cancer Institute under grant #5R01HD32922.

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Gustafson, D.H., Hawkins, R., Pingree, S. et al. Effect of computer support on younger women with breast cancer. J GEN INTERN MED 16, 435–445 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007435.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007435.x

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