Using health communication best practices to develop a web-based provider-patient communication aid: the CONNECT study.
OBJECTIVE
Although there is broad consensus that careful content vetting and user testing is important in the development of technology-based educational interventions, often these steps are overlooked. This paper highlights the development of a theory-guided, web-based communication aid (CONNECT), designed to facilitate treatment decision-making among patients with advanced cancer.


METHODS
The communication aid included an on-line survey, patient skills training module and an automated physician report. Development steps included: (1) evidence-based content development; (2) usability testing; (3) pilot testing; and (4) patient utilization and satisfaction.


RESULTS
Usability testing identified some confusing directions and navigation for the on-line survey and validated the relevance of the "patient testimonials" in the skills module. Preliminary satisfaction from the implementation of the communication aid showed that 66% found the survey length reasonable and 70% found it helpful in talking with the physician. Seventy percent reported the skills module helpful and about half found it affected the consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
Designing patient education interventions for translation into practice requires the integration of health communication best practice including user feedback along the developmental process.


CONCLUSIONS
This developmental process can be translated to a broad array of community-based patient and provider educational interventions.
Fleisher
Linda
L
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19012, United States. linda.fleisher@fccc.edu
Buzaglo
Joanne
J
Collins
Michael
M
Millard
Jennifer
J
Miller
Suzanne M
SM
Egleston
Brian L
BL
Solarino
Nicholas
N
Trinastic
Jonathan
J
Cegala
Donald J
DJ
Benson
Al B
AB
Schulman
Kevin A
KA
Weinfurt
Kevin P
KP
Sulmasy
Daniel
D
Diefenbach
Michael A
MA
Meropol
Neal J
NJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D003142:Communication; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires