Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Oct 8, 2019
Date Accepted: Jan 26, 2020
U-CARE: Internet-based stepped care targeting individuals with cancer and concurrent symptoms of anxiety and depression- A qualitative exploration of perceived relevance and benefit among users
ABSTRACT
Background:
When newly diagnosed with cancer, individuals may experience impairment of health in several aspects and often have a large need for information and support. About 30% will experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, with varying needs of knowledge and support. Despite this, several lack appropriate support. Internet-based support programs may offer a supplement to standard care services, but must be carefully explored from a user perspective.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to explore the participants’ perceived relevance and benefits of an internet-based stepped care program (iCAN-DO), targeting individuals with cancer and concurrent symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Methods:
A qualitative study with an inductive approach was performed, in which 15 individuals using iCAN-DO were interviewed with semi-structured questions. Content analysis was used to analyze the interviews.
Results:
In the analysis, 17 sub-categories regarding the stepped care intervention was found, resulting in four categories. The need for information was described as large, and finding information was almost looked upon as a survival strategy when newly diagnosed. iCAN-DO was seen as a useful, reliable source of information and support. It was used as a complement to standard care and as a means to inform next of kin. Increased knowledge was a foundation for continued processing of own feelings and the optimal time to gain access to iCAN-DO would have been when being informed of the diagnosis. The most common denominator was that of feeling acknowledged and supported, but with a desire for further adaptation of the system to each individual’s own situation and needs.
Conclusions:
The internet-based stepped care program was seen as safe and reliable and was used as a complement to standard care. Similar interventions may gain from more personalized contents, being integrated into standard care and/or using tracking of symptoms to adjust the contents. Offering this type of program close to diagnosis may provide benefits to users.
Citation
Request queued. Please wait while the file is being generated. It may take some time.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.