JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital health interventions, including the use of patient portals have been shown to offer benefits to a range of patients including those with a diagnosis of cancer.

Objective:

We aimed to explore the participant experience and perception of using an interactive web-based portal for monitoring physical activity, remote symptom reporting and delivering educational components.

Methods:

Participants were currently having, or who have recently completed intensive treatment for cancer were recruited to three cohorts and invited to join a web-based portal to enhance their physical activity. Cohort 1 received web-portal access and an activity monitor, cohort 2 had additional summative messaging and cohort 3 had additional personalized health coaching messaging. Following the 10-week intervention, participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Interview recordings were transcribed and evaluated using qualitative thematic analysis.

Results:

Seventeen semi-structured interviews were carried out. Participants indicated that using the web-portal was feasible. Personalised messaging improved participant perceptions of the value of the intervention. There was a contrast between cohorts and levels of engagement with increasing health professional contact leading to an increase in engagement. Educational material needs to be tailored to the participant’s cancer treatment status, health literacy and background.

Conclusions:

Participants reported an overall positive experience using the web-portal and that personalised messaging positively impacted on their health behaviours. Future studies should focus more on design of interventions, ensuring appropriate tailoring of information and personalization of behavioural support messaging.