title: Nutritional Online Information for Cancer Patients: a Randomized Trial of an Internet Communication Plus Social Media Intervention.
abstract: We hypothesized that cancer patients using an Internet website would show an improvement in the knowledge about healthy eating habits, and this might be enhanced by social media interaction. A 6-month randomized intervention was set up. Eligible subjects were allocated in intervention (IG) and control groups (CG). IG had access to the website, and CG was provided with printed versions. All enrolled participants filled in Nutrition Questionnaire (NQ), Quality of Life Questionnaire (QoL) and Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI), at baseline and after 6 months. The difference between post- vs pre-questionnaires was calculated. Seventy-four subjects (CG 39; IG 35) completed the study. There was an increase in the score after the intervention in both groups for the NQ, even if not statistically significant. Dividing the IG into three categories, no (NI), low (LI) and high interactions (HI), we found a decreased score (improvement) in the CG (-0.2) and in the HI (-1.7), and an increased score (worsening) in the NI (+3.3) (p = NS) analysing the PDI. We found an increased score in the QoL both in CG and IG (adjusted LSMeans +3.5 and +2.8 points, respectively; p = NS). This study represents an example for support cancer patients. Despite the lack of significant effects, critical points and problems encountered may be of interest to researchers and organization working in the cancer setting. Intervention strategies to support patients during the care process are needed in order to attain the full potential of patient-centred care on cancer outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ramusio 1, 20141, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gnagnarella
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ramusio 1, 20141, Milan, Italy. alessandro.misotti@ieo.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Misotti
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ramusio 1, 20141, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technological Research of Crete, Technological Education Institution of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akoumianakis
authors.affiliation: Federazione Italiana Delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Campo
authors.affiliation: Federazione Italiana Delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Organisation of the European Cancer Institute, Brussels, Belgium.|SOS Europe Srl, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technological Research of Crete, Technological Education Institution of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Giannis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milolidakis
authors.affiliation: King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Scientific Directorate, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: John Gordon
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McVie
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003142:Communication; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D044623:Nutrition Therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011788:Quality of Life; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer; Internet support; Nutrition; Psychological Distress Inventory; Quality of Life; Randomized intervention study; Social media
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