Effects of using online narrative and didactic information on healthcare participation for breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of online narrative and didactic information on breast cancer patients' healthcare participation and the interaction effects of race.


METHODS



METHODS
353 breast cancer patients (111 African Americans) using an eHealth program with narratives (audiovisual and text) and didactic information (text only).


METHODS
healthcare participation scale (0, 4 months), online information use.


METHODS
hierarchical regression.


RESULTS
Narrative (beta=0.123, p<0.01) and didactic (beta=0.104, p<0.05) information use had independent and positive effects on healthcare participation. Effects of both were significantly greater for African Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings are consistent with and advance prior research on online learning processes and outcomes for breast cancer patients: (1) benefits accrue with using a variety of online learning tools; (2) African Americans use and benefit more from online narrative and didactic information than do Caucasians.


CONCLUSIONS
eHealth programs should provide both didactic and narrative information-especially for African Americans and might consider making greater use of interactive and audiovisual formats. As patients increasingly use of the web for cancer information, clinicians should provide lists of web high quality resources that provide both narrative and didactic information.
Wise
Meg
M
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, United States. mewise@wisc.edu
Han
Jeong Yeob
JY
Shaw
Bret
B
McTavish
Fiona
F
Gustafson
David H
DH
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data