JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digitalization offers enormous potential in medicine. The development of the use of digital technical and informal resources of breast cancer patients and factors influencing the degree of digitization of patients have been insufficiently researched. Objectives: To assess the development of the use of digital technical and informal resources in a well-defined patient cohort.

Objective:

To assess the development of digitalization in a well-defined patient cohort.

Methods:

Longitudinal study on 513 breast cancer patients from 2012-2020.

Results:

The vast majority of patients own the technical possibilities to use eHealth offers, use the Internet to obtain information and are willing to use new eHealth solutions. Two thirds of the patients have already discussed information about their cancer on the Internet with their doctor, one third have found additional treatment options on the Internet and even 15% of the patients stated that this had changed their cancer therapy. The degree of digitization is increasing yet still significantly depends on three factors: (1) age (use of the Internet 2020: complete use of the <59-year-old, 90% use of the 60-69-year-old, 50% use of the >70-year-old), (2) education (use of the Internet: low school education: 51.8%, middle school education: 82.4%, high school education: 90.3%; P<.001) and (3) household size (living alone: 67.7%, household size ≥2 people: 84.7%, P<.001).

Conclusions:

To implement digital solutions in healthcare, knowledge of the composition and degree of the use of digital technical and informal resources of the patient group for which the respective solution is developed for is crucial for its success. Clinical Trial: German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS00012364).