scholarly journals Why People Living With and Beyond Cancer Use the Internet

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541982983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Marie Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Self Management ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

People living with and beyond cancer suffer with a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. To manage the challenges associated with cancer, patients use a variety of self-management resources, including the Internet. People living with and beyond cancer use the Internet to make decisions regarding their self-care, through information provision, online communities, and support groups. Using the Internet may empower patients, enabling them to feel they have the required knowledge to discuss complementary and alternative treatment options with their health care team. Patients use the Internet because of its practicality; however, there are also several barriers affecting patients with cancer using the Internet, such as lack of information technology skills, lack of computer access, and concerns over the quality of information. Health care professionals need to be aware that the information available on the Internet plays a factor in the decision-making processes regarding using complementary and alternative medicine for self-management. With the use of the Internet as a tool for self-management continuing to grow, it is recommended that more emphasis is placed on health care professionals discussing the role the Internet plays in the decision-making process, to further support their patients regarding self-management for living with and beyond cancer.

scholarly journals Understanding Medical Decision-making in Prostate Cancer Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1635-1647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Thera ◽  
Dr. Tracey Carr ◽  
Dr. Gary Groot ◽  
Nicole Baba ◽  
Dr. Kunal Jana
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
System Quality ◽  
The Way

The availability of several treatment options for prostate cancer creates a situation where patients may need to come to a shared decision with their health-care team regarding their care. Shared decision-making (SDM) is the concept of a patient and a health-care professional collaborating to make decisions about the patient’s treatment course. Nurse navigators (NNs) are health-care professionals often involved in the SDM process. The current project sought to evaluate the way in which patients with prostate cancer make decisions regarding their care and to determine patients’ perspectives of the role of the NN in the SDM process. Eleven participants were recruited from the Prostate Assessment Centre by a NN. They were interviewed via telephone and their responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five interacting factors were determined to influence the way participants made decisions including level of anxiety, desire to maintain normalcy, support system quality, exposure to cancer narratives, and extent of practical concerns. NNs were found to increase knowledge, decrease indecision, and provide reassurance for participants. Based on the beneficial aspects of NN interaction reported in this study, the use of NNs in SDM programs should be encouraged. The results of the study demonstrate the complexity of the decision-making process when it comes to prostate cancer treatment. The factors elucidated in the study should be considered during the development and implementation of prostate cancer SDM programs.

scholarly journals Assessing the Needs and Perspectives of Patients With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Patient Web Portals: Focus Group Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Metting ◽  
Aaltje Jantine Schrage ◽  
Janwillem WH Kocks ◽  
Robbert Sanderman ◽  
Thys van der Molen
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Self Management ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Web Portals ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND As accessibility to the internet has increased in society, many health care organizations have developed patient Web portals (PWPs), which can provide a range of self-management options to improve patient access. However, the available evidence suggests that they are used inefficiently and do not benefit patients with low health literacy. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common chronic diseases that require ongoing self-management. Moreover, patients with COPD are typically older and have lower health literacy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to obtain and present an overview of patients’ perspectives of PWPs to facilitate the development of a portal that better meets the needs of patients with asthma and COPD. METHODS We performed a focus group study using semistructured interviews in 3 patient groups from the north of the Netherlands who were recruited through the Dutch Lung Foundation. Each group met 3 times for 2 hours each at a 1-week interval. Data were analyzed with coding software, and patient descriptors were analyzed with nonparametric tests. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research were followed when conducting the study. RESULTS We included 29 patients (16/29, 55% male; mean age 65 [SD 10] years) with COPD (n=14), asthma-COPD overlap (n=4), asthma (n=10), or other respiratory disease (n=1). There was a large variation in the internet experience; some patients hardly used the internet (4/29, 14%), whereas others used internet >3 times a week (23/29, 79%). In general, patients were positive about having access to a PWP, considering access to personal medical records as the most important option, though only after discussion with their physician. A medication overview was considered a useful option. We found that communication between health care professionals could be improved if patients could use the PWP to share information with their health care professionals. However, as participants were worried about the language and usability of portals, it was recommended that language should be adapted to the patient level. Another concern was that disease monitoring through Web-based questionnaire use would only be useful if the results were discussed with health care professionals. CONCLUSIONS Participants were positive about PWPs and considered them a logical step. Today, most patients tend to be better educated and have internet access, while also being more assertive and better informed about their disease. A PWP could support these patients. Our participants also provided practical suggestions for implementation in current and future PWP developments. The next step will be to develop a portal based on these recommendations and assess whether it meets the needs of patients and health care providers.

Communication, Interpersonal Skills, and Decision Making

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Templeman ◽  
June Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Interpersonal Skills ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ease Of Access

This chapter explores the various aspects of communication and how these relate to our own interpersonal skills in communicating with others. The effectiveness of our communication—that is, how good we are at passing on information and ensuring that another person understands what we are trying to say—has a direct effect on both our own decision-making skills and the decisions made by those around us. We have all come across health care professionals whom we have felt have a good ‘bedside manner’ and those who do not. Historically, this term has been used to describe those who can communicate effectively. It is very important that, through our use of words, the person listening is able to understand what we mean. In nursing and health care generally, there is an increasing emphasis on communication as a means of building therapeutic relationships with both patients and their relatives. Communication, in the light of new technologies and ease of access by the wider community, extends far beyond the patient’s reliance on others for information about his or her health and well-being. It now encompasses more interpersonal communication, in which patients can be viewed as ‘the expert’ in conversations with nurses and doctors, an increased awareness of cultural influences, and the use of social networking sites, as well as the numerous Internet sites now available, to offer possible diagnoses and treatment options for the general public. Making decisions about patients’ health and often whether to accept those made on their behalf by others is now a real challenge for health professionals when communicating with patients and their families. As a nurse, it is part of your role to make decisions with patients and their families not for them, and the importance of learning how to communicate effectively, as well as how to engage in communicating with people, is clearly evident in the fact that the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Pre-Registration Nursing Education (NMC 2010b) now includes a new set of competencies solely for ‘Communication and interpersonal skills’.

The Application of Multicriteria Decision Analysis Methods in Health Care: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2110190
Author(s):  
Ilyas Khan ◽  
Liliane Pintelon ◽  
Harry Martin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Analysis ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Hybrid Methods ◽  
Multicriteria Decision Analysis ◽  
Multicriteria Decision ◽  
Health Care Decision ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Care Decision

Objectives The main objectives of this article are 2-fold. First, we explore the application of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods in different areas of health care, particularly the adoption of various MCDA methods across health care decision making problems. Second, we report on the publication trends on the application of MCDA methods in health care. Method PubMed was searched for literature from 1960 to 2019 in the English language. A wide range of keywords was used to retrieve relevant studies. The literature search was performed in September 2019. Articles were included only if they have reported an MCDA case in health care. Results and Conclusion The search yielded 8,318 abstracts, of which 158 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were considered for further analysis. Hybrid methods are the most widely used methods in health care decision making problems. When it comes to single methods, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is the most widely used method followed by TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution), multiattribute utility theory, goal programming, EVIDEM (evidence and value: impact on decision making), evidential reasoning, discrete choice experiment, and so on. Interestingly, the usage of hybrid methods has been high in recent years. AHP is most widely applied in screening and diagnosing and followed by treatment, medical devices, resource allocation, and so on. Furthermore, treatment, screening and diagnosing, medical devices, and drug development and assessment got more attention in the MCDA context. It is indicated that the application of MCDA methods to health care decision making problem is determined by the nature and complexity of the health care problem. However, guidelines and tools exist that assist in the selection of an MCDA method.

scholarly journals Digital health interventions in palliative care: a systematic meta-review

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Finucane ◽  
Hannah O’Donnell ◽  
Jean Lugton ◽  
Tilly Gibson-Watt ◽  
Connie Swenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Meta Review

AbstractDigital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of palliative care but heterogeneity amongst existing systematic reviews presents a challenge for evidence synthesis. This meta-review applied a structured search of ten databases from 2006 to 2020, revealing 21 relevant systematic reviews, encompassing 332 publications. Interventions delivered via videoconferencing (17%), electronic healthcare records (16%) and phone (13%) were most frequently described in studies within reviews. DHIs were typically used in palliative care for education (20%), symptom management (15%), decision-making (13%), information provision or management (13%) and communication (9%). Across all reviews, mostly positive impacts were reported on education, information sharing, decision-making, communication and costs. Impacts on quality of life and physical and psychological symptoms were inconclusive. Applying AMSTAR 2 criteria, most reviews were judged as low quality as they lacked a protocol or did not consider risk of bias, so findings need to be interpreted with caution.

Caring for Gravely Ill Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Fleischman ◽  
Kathleen Nolan ◽  
Nancy N. Dubler ◽  
Michael F. Epstein ◽  
Mary Ann Gerben ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pediatric Health Care ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Primary Focus

Background. Much has been written about the care of the hopelessly ill adult, but there is little guidance for pediatric health care professionals in the management of children who are critically or terminally ill. Methods. Through a 3-day meeting in Tarrytown, NY, attended by a group of pediatricians and others directly involved in these issues, a principled approach was developed for the treatment of, and health care decision-making for, children who are gravely ill. Results. The group agreed that the needs and interests of the child must be the central focus of any treatment plan and that the child should be involved to as great extent possible, consistent with developmental maturity, in the decision-making process. Quality of future life should be viewed as being relevant in all decisions. Parents are believed to be the natural guardians of children and ought to have great latitude in making decisions for them. However, parental discretion is not absolute and professionals must maintain an independent obligation to protect the child's interests. Conclusions. Decision-making should be collaborative among patient, parents, and professionals. When conflict arises, consultation and ethics committees may assist in resolution. When cure or restoration of function is no longer possible, or reasonable, promotion of comfort becomes the primary goal of management. Optimal use of pain medication and compassionate concern for the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of the child and family should be the primary focus of the professionals caring for the dying child.

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