ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2018
Ecuadorian Cancer Patients' Preference for Information and Communication Technologies: Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among the Chongqing Population: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Frequency of Online Health Information Seeking and Types of Information Sought Among the General Chinese Population: Cross-sectional Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Article
- How are patients with chronic urticaria interested in using information and communication technologies to guide their healthcare? A UCARE study.The World Allergy Organization journal · 2021Article
- WhatsApp Messenger use in oncology: a narrative review on pros and contras of a flexible and practical, non-specific communication tool.Ecancermedicalscience · 2021Review
- The usage, quality and relevance of information and communications technologies in patients with chronic urticaria: A UCARE study.The World Allergy Organization journal · 2020Article
- Effects of a WhatsApp-Delivered Education Intervention to Enhance Breast Cancer Knowledge in Women: Mixed-Methods Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Article
- The Effectiveness of Educational Mobile Messages for Assisting in the Prevention of Early Childhood Caries: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2019Article
- e-Health literacy and online health information utilization among Jordanians: A population-based study.Digital healthArticle
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10 authors.
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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.
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