title: Completing a life: comfort level and ease of use of a CD-ROM among seriously ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate use of a CD-ROM titled Completing a Life among patients diagnosed with serious illnesses for comfort level with content and ease of computer use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot study collected a convenience sample of 50 people diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses during a six-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hematology/oncology department of a large healthcare system located in a metropolitan area in the midwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of 50 patients diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses. Of the patients enrolled (age range = 38-93 years), 72% were female, 68% were Caucasian, 50% were diagnosed with breast cancer or nonsolid tumors, and 40% were newly diagnosed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects viewed the CD-ROM and completed pre- and post-intervention surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comfort level with educational media, comfort level of information viewed, and areas of CD-ROM viewed compared to age and stage of illness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety percent of patients reported that they were somewhat or very comfortable with the CD-ROM as a learning tool, and ease of use was rated at 98%. Patients' comfort level with the material increased from 76% to 90% after they viewed the CD-ROM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot study suggests that the Completing a Life CD-ROM can be used with patients facing serious or life-limiting illnesses as an additional resource tool for information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses typically provide the bulk of educational material for their patients. With limited resources available regarding management of life-limiting illnesses, this resource may provide an excellent addition to resources currently available.
authors.affiliation: Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detriot, MI, USA. alambin1@hfhs.org
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambing
authors.forename: Carolyn Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Neslund-Dudas
authors.forename: Leslie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bricker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016251:CD-ROM; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013727:Terminal Care; D014584:User-Computer Interface