Individuals with breast cancer empowerment through the use of health information technology

Background: Individuals with breast cancer often struggle with physical, psychological, and social issues and unmet informational and support needs. This may impact their coping and decision-making abilities leading to poor health and wellbeing outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether use of online information and support is associated with better physical and psycho-social wellbeing, empowerment, and healthcare engagement. Methods: Secondary data analysis of the Yale University School of Nursing Breast Cancer Internet Information and Support (BCIIS) Study. Primary outcomes evaluated are coping and decision-making confidence level. Research variables included in the analysis are age, education and income level, race, Internet usage, information seeking behavior, and depression and anxiety level. Spearman correlation and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine the key relationships. Results: The majority of the survey respondents (n= 430) are White, non-Hispanic (86.4%), married (69%), women (99.1%) with a mean age of 50.7 years (SD= 9.6), mean education level of 15.7 (SD= 3.6), working full-time (44.2%), living in the U.S. (80.6%), and were diagnosed with stage II breast cancer (37%). Online information and support seeking was associated with active decision-making (β=1.63; 95% CI 1.26, 1.99; OR= 5.08; p <0.001) and improved psychological health and wellbeing (β= 1.15; 95% CI 0.97, 1.32; OR= 3.15; p <0.001). The respondents reported they need online information, discussion boards, and support from other patients, nurses, and other experts. Conclusion: Findings from this study is pertinent for clinical and health information technology policy implications. Healthcare organizations that offer online education, advice, and support may improve patients' physical, psychological, and social outcomes and thus improve patient care cost and quality. Additionally this would meet the health information technology policy criteria to provide patients with electronic education and engage and empower healthcare consumers. Keywords: health information technology, engagement, empowerment, psycho-social-physical wellbeing