JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Patient portal use is associated with increased patient retention, engagement, satisfaction, patient-provider communication, and treatment adherence. However, even with sufficient access to digital technology, some patients may lack the digital literacy to use health care technologies (patient portals/telehealth) for their care needs.

Objective:

We are currently evaluating the introduction of a new type of patient navigator - a Digital Health Navigator (DHN) - into our oncology care teams. The DHN role was envisioned to incorporate patient digital needs assessment and support into the role of patient navigators by providing digital skills training to patients.

Methods:

We conducted digital needs assessment interviews with cancer care providers and patients with cancer and used interpretive description as our methodological approach. We asked providers 1) what types of digital health tools they encourage patients to use, 2) perceived benefits of digital health tools including patient portals and telehealth, and 3) barriers to patients’ use of digital health tools, and 4) potential benefits of a DHN. We asked patients 1) what types of electronic devices they use to access portals and participate in telehealth, 2) perceived benefits of digital health tools including portals and telehealth, and 3) potential benefits of a DHN. We analyzed the qualitative data from the interviews to determine themes of digital health tools recommended and used, and the benefits and barriers to digital health tools and DHNs.

Results:

Important categories identified in the qualitative data include 1) devices used by patients to access digital health tools; 2) digital health tools providers encourage patients to use; 3) benefits and barriers to the use of digital health tools; and 4) potential benefits of a DHN and integration into our Cancer Center.

Conclusions:

Providers and patients both highlighted the benefits and barriers to digital health tools in cancer care, highlighting the need and specific roles of a DHN in oncology care. Future steps include using a patient-centered and community-engaged approach to co-designing the DHN role and accompanying intervention to integrate DHNs into our oncology care teams. We are the first study team to establish an evidence base on which to design a DHN role for an oncology care setting.