Online cancer patient education: evaluating usability and content.
OBJECTIVE
Two patient education CD-ROMs were converted to a web-based environment. This article reports on users' evaluations of the programs' usability and content. DESCRIPTION OF EVALUATION: Subscribers to a center's web newsletter were asked to view one of two web programs and to complete a survey. The first 150 respondents were offered a free patient education CD-ROM of their choice, but users continued to respond to the survey even after a notice stated that 150 responses were received. A total of 301 surveys were completed (Colorectal Cancer Program 168; Chemotherapy Program 133).


RESULTS
Sixty-eight percent of Colorectal Cancer Program respondents and 50% of Chemotherapy Program respondents considered the program to be more useful or much more useful than any other source of information on the topic. A majority of users for both programs preferred to view the information on the Internet rather than on CD-ROM. Many users reported trouble accessing certain segments of the media. Common complaints included the inability to open video or audio clips and the length of time needed for each page to load, despite a high-speed Internet connection.


CONCLUSIONS
Internet use is high, with 60% of US households reporting having used the Internet to search for health information. However, little is known about user satisfaction with specific sites and what about them users like or do not like. It is hoped that these and other user evaluations will help web site authors and developers improve their sites.
Cumbo
Angelique
A
Research Study Assistant, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Agre
Patricia
P
Dougherty
James
J
Callery
Matt
M
Tetzlaff
Linda
L
Pirone
Jane
J
Tallia
Rob
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation