Development and evaluation of an educational interactive CD‐ROM for teens with cancer

Abstract

Background Cancer is the number one disease killer of children and adolescents in North America. For adolescents, this diagnosis comes at a particularly vulnerable stage. Educating adolescents with cancer from diagnosis through treatment teaches and empowers them. Increasing evidence shows that these adolescents want more information. Few educational tools exist for young cancer patients; none are interactive; therefore, a CD‐ROM was developed to meet this need. Procedure Animation, voiceover, music, videos, and games were combined to develop a comprehensive multimedia CD‐ROM to teach 12‐ to 18‐year‐olds with solid tumors about their disease, treatment, coping skills, and late effects in an interactive and non‐threatening way. The CD‐ROM was evaluated in a pre–post design with 65 subjects recruited from four pediatric oncology centers randomized to the CD‐ROM or a “Handbook” containing analogous information. Pre–post questionnaires measured coping strategies, health locus of control, quality of life, cancer knowledge, and self‐efficacy; post‐test variables also included acceptability and use by teens, their families, and healthcare professionals. Results Teens receiving the CD‐ROM were significantly more likely to increase their internal locus of control scores; however, no significant differences were observed on other measures, attributable in part to the study sample size. Among teens, acceptability was higher in the CD‐ROM versus the Handbook group, but not different between the two parent groups. Pediatric oncology healthcare providers gave positive feedback on the CD‐ROM. Conclusions This CD‐ROM is an innovative and engaging educational tool—the first portable interactive product with access on demand for adolescents with solid tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:512–519. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Psychosocial interventions for adolescents and young adult cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Jones et al [42] created a CD-ROM to empower cancer patients to "beat" cancer and return to a productive life. The CD contains several topics (e.g.…”

“…Six studies [39][40][41][42][43][44] examined the effects of technologybased interventions. The majority of these studies used multiple outcome parameters.…”

A Critical Review of the Use of Technology to Provide Psychosocial Support for Children and Young People with Long-Term Conditions

“…2009) reported that children and young people were involved in the development of the intervention but this was only through consultation, not collaboration stated user involvement was through collaboration but the text describes more consultation than collaboration). Finally, only 8 (30%) studies reported pilot testing the intervention and/or study design Holden et al, 2000;Homer et al, 2000;Johnson et al, 2001;Jones et al, 2010;McPherson et al, 2006;Rubin et al, 1986;Whittemore et al, 2012). Two studies did not report conducting a pilot study although in the process of the literature search publications of pilot studies were identified (Franklin, Waller, Pagliari, & Greene, 2003;Joshi, Lichenstein, Rafei, Bakar, & Arora, 2007).…”

“…Seven (26%) of the included papers Johnson et al, 2001;Jones et al, 2010;McPherson et al, 2006;Mulvaney et al, 2010;Stinson et al, 2010;Zorc et al, (17) Not relevant (13) Intervention does not involve technology (11) Prevention/health promotion (11) Intervention for parents (7) Discussion paper (6) Review paper (4) Conference abstract (1) Intervention for siblings (1) Studies eligible for inclusion in review (n = 40)…”

“…A sample size calculation was only made in 12 (44%) studies Franklin et al, 2006;Guendelman et al, 2002;Iafusco et al, 2011;Jan et al, 2007;Jones et al, 2010;Krishna et al, 2003;McPherson et al, 2006;Mosnaim et al, 2008;Palermo et al, 2009;Shegog et al, 2001;Zorc et al, 2009). The age of inclusion ranged from 0 to 19 years.…”