title: Using tablet-based technology in patient education about systemic therapy options for early-stage breast cancer: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient education in early-stage breast cancer has been shown to improve patient well-being and quality of life, but it poses a challenge given the increasingly complex regimens and time constraints in clinical practice. Technology-aided teaching in the clinic could help to improve the understanding of adjuvant systemic therapy for patients. In this prospective pilot study, we used a clinician-administered, tablet-based teaching aid to teach patients with early-stage breast cancer about adjuvant systemic therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participation was offered to newly diagnosed patients with early-stage breast cancer presenting for their first medical oncology visit at a provincial cancer centre. Participants were shown a tablet-based presentation describing procedures, rationales, risks, and benefits of adjuvant systemic therapy as an adjunct to a discussion with the medical oncologist. After the clinic visit, participants completed a questionnaire measuring satisfaction with the visit and knowledge of the treatment plan discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 25 patients recruited for the study had a mean age of 57 years. An offer of upfront chemotherapy alone was made to 12 participants (48%), chemotherapy with trastuzumab to 4 (16%), and hormonal therapy to 9 (36%). Correct answers to all questions related to treatment knowledge were given by 22 patients (88%). Satisfaction with the clinic visit was high (mean satisfaction score: 4.53 ± 0.1 of a possible 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that a tablet-based presentation about adjuvant systemic therapy was satisfactory to patients with early-stage breast cancer and that knowledge retention after the clinic visit was high. Tablet-based teaching could be a feasible and effective way of educating patients in the breast oncology clinic and warrants further investigation in randomized studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Program, Eastern Health, St. John's, NL;
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Program, Eastern Health, St. John's, NL;
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Program, Eastern Health, St. John's, NL;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McCrate
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Program, Eastern Health, St. John's, NL;
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Seal
keywords: Breast cancer; adjuvant systemic therapy; clinical teaching tools; e-learning; mobile technology; patient education; tablet computers