An online self-care education program to support patients after total laryngectomy: feasibility and satisfaction

Ingrid C Cnossen, Cornelia F. van Uden-Kraan, Simone E J Eerenstein, Femke Jansen, Birgit I. Witte, Martin Lacko, José A U Hardillo, Jimmie Honings, Gyorgy B Halmos, Noortje L Q Goedhart-Schwandt, Remco de Bree, C René Leemans, Irma M Verdonck de Leeuw*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an online self-care education program supporting early rehabilitation of patients after total laryngectomy (TLPs) and factors associated with satisfaction.

    METHODS: Health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to participate and to recruit TLPs. TLPs were informed on the self-care education program "In Tune without Cords" (ITwC) after which they gained access. A study specific survey was used (at baseline T0 and postintervention T1) on TLPs' uptake. Usage, satisfaction (general impression, willingness to use, user-friendliness, satisfaction with self-care advice and strategies, Net Promoter Score (NPS)), sociodemographic, and clinical factors were analyzed.

    RESULTS: HCPs of 6 out of 9 centers (67% uptake rate) agreed to participate and recruited TLPs. In total, 55 of 75 TLPs returned informed consent and the baseline T0 survey and were provided access to ITwC (73% uptake rate). Thirty-eight of these 55 TLPs used ITwC and completed the T1 survey (69% usage rate). Most (66%) TLPs were satisfied (i.e., score ≥7 (scale 1-10) on 4 survey items) with the self-care education program (mean score 7.2, SD 1.1). NPS was positive (+5). Satisfaction with the self-care education program was significantly associated with (higher) educational level and health literacy skills (P = .004, P = .038, respectively). No significant association was found with gender, age, marital status, employment status, Internet use, Internet literacy, treatment modality, time since total laryngectomy, and quality of life.

    CONCLUSION: The online self-care education program ITwC supporting early rehabilitation was feasible in clinical practice. In general, TLPs were satisfied with the program.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1261-1268
    Number of pages8
    JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
    Volume24
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Aug 2015

    Keywords

    • Adult
    • Aged
    • Cross-Sectional Studies
    • Employment
    • Female
    • Health Literacy
    • Humans
    • Internet
    • Laryngeal Neoplasms
    • Laryngectomy
    • Male
    • Middle Aged
    • Patient Education as Topic
    • Patient Satisfaction
    • Quality of Life
    • Self Care
    • Surveys and Questionnaires
    • Journal Article
    • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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