title: Evaluation of a Web-Based Program for African American Young Breast Cancer Survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among women aged <45 years, African Americans have the highest breast cancer incidence rates of any ethnic/racial group and disproportionately higher rates of mortality. Young breast cancer survivors (YBCSs) may require psychosocial and reproductive health support when navigating diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. To address these needs, the Young Sisters Initiative: A Guide to a Better You! Program (YSI) was developed, implemented, and evaluated. The purpose of this study was to assess implementation and fidelity; identify barriers and facilitators to implementation; and explore audience access, use, and perceived value of the YSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-method, process evaluation of the YSI using interviews, an online screener, and post-use survey was conducted with data collected and analyzed from February through August 2013. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted without qualitative data analysis software. Survey data were analyzed using PASW Statistics, version 18.
  
  
  RESULTS
  YSI core elements were implemented as intended. A total of 1,442 people visited the YSI website; 93% of breast cancer survivors who visited the site (and consented to be in the study) were African American; 75% of post-use survey YBCS respondents were very or somewhat satisfied with the YSI; and 70% of YBCS respondents said the YSI content was somewhat or very useful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest the value of using the Internet, including social media, to provide African-American YBCSs who are newly diagnosed, in treatment, and post-treatment with reproductive and psychosocial information and support. Further implementation and evaluation of programs addressing the needs of YBCSs are needed.
authors.affiliation: ICF International, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: ashani.johnson-turbes@icfi.com.
authors.forename: Ashani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson-Turbes
authors.affiliation: ICF International, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Dara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlueter
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Natasha D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Temeika L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Fairley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D060728:Reproductive Health; D061108:Social Media; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors