The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67763

Elizabeth Steinberger, MPH, RN, MA, Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC School of Public Health, Rosenau Hall 308, CB#7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, (919) 969-8920, steinber@email.unc.edu and Edwin Wilkins, MD, MS, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Michigan, 2130 Taubman Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0340.

The Internet makes it possible to provide especially up-to-date, low-cost, and accessible health education interventions. Shared decision-making theory was used to construct a web site designed to give breast cancer patients complete, balanced, easy-to-understand information about breast reconstruction options after mastectomy.

In 2000, a pilot prospective cohort study (N=51) evaluated the acceptability and impact of the site. In one clinic, women viewed the web site before seeing the plastic surgeon. In a second clinic, women were given a brochure and a "pencil talk" while consulting the same surgeon. The groups did not vary by age, race, or computer literacy. Knowledge of breast reconstruction options; decision-making anxiety and desire for information; and satisfaction with the provider, length of provider visit, and quality of care likewise did not vary significantly between groups. However, the web group reported feeling more comfortable using computers (p<0.01) and web sites (p<0.009). Moreover, women using the web site reported significantly higher satisfaction with the quality of information (p<0.026) and spent an average of 14.7 minutes less with the surgeon (p<0.0005).

The Web is an acceptable educational venue for breast cancer patients. Internet-based interventions can facilitate shared decision-making between doctors and patients by saving physician time while providing higher quality health information to patients.

Breast Reconstruction Options After Mastectomy: A Consumer’s Guide http://www.surgery.med.umich.edu/breastrecon.htm

Learning Objectives:

• To gain thorough, accurate, easy-to-understand information about available breast reconstruction options, to facilitate satisfactory decision-making with the plastic surgeon.
• To gain confidence using the Internet as a channel of health information.

Keywords: Decision-Making, Breast Cancer

Related Web page: www.surgery.med.umich.edu/breastrecon.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Michigan Hospital
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 737.0 kb)