Breast Cancer Survivors Say Web is Valuable Resource for Health Information; SHN Survey Kicks off Activities to Educate Public about Breast Cancer.

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 22, 1998--A survey released today by SHN (Sapient Health Network)(tm), a free, online health information and support site for people with chronic and serious illnesses, shows more than 90 percent of the participants believe that online information has improved their ability to cope with their disease.

More than 250 members of the SHN Breast Cancer Community participated in the survey.

A majority of those surveyed -- 66 percent -- share the information they find online with their physicians. Of those doctors whose patients shared online information, 77 percent responded positively to the information and 7 percent changed their patient's course of treatment based on the shared information.

"Because today's healthcare consumers participate in the decision making process with their primary care provider, it is not surprising that more people are discussing the information they find on the Internet with their doctors," said Suzanne Bakken Henry, R.N., D.N.Sc., associate professor, Nursing and Medical Information Science, University of California, San Francisco. "However, quality of information on the Web varies greatly. Sites that provide up-to-date and reliable information tailored to each consumer's needs have the potential to empower consumers and to establish a new dimension in healthcare delivery."

The survey also shows that 70 percent of respondents say the most important reason why they use online information and support sites is to gain access to medical information. One in five survey participants go online for support from other cancer survivors.

"SHN's member survey shows that more people are trusting the information they receive online," said Jim Kean, president of SHN. "The number one reason people cited for going online was access to the health information, followed by support from other cancer survivors. SHN is committed to providing our members with access to the most reliable information available from a variety of sources, including Reuters and HealthScout, as well as a strong network of communities for member support. That's what keeps our members coming back."

SHN surveyed its breast cancer community to determine the reasons why members go online for information and support, as well as to learn how those members use the information they find online. The survey demonstrates SHN's ongoing commitment to provide its members with the information and services they want most. SHN: The Breast Cancer Information and Support Site

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the SHN Breast Cancer Community will host a series of chats with medical experts and offer links to events happening across the country. SHN kicked off these cancer-related activities last week by raising awareness of THE MARCH, a vigil and rally in Washington, D.C. on September 25 and 26 to draw attention to all types of cancer and encourage Congress to devote more resources to cancer research.

As part of SHN's efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer, the site will hold a membership drive in October to raise funds for breast cancer research. For each new member who joins the Breast Cancer Community during that month, SHN will donate one dollar to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. Amgen and HealthScout will join SHN's fundraising efforts by matching SHN's donations with their own contributions to breast cancer research. Also in October, Yahoo! will contribute free public service announcement banners directing visitors to the SHN Breast Cancer Community for information on the disease.

Over 9,000 members are registered with the SHN Breast Cancer Community. The free membership provides breast cancer patients and their family and friends with access to a wealth of information about the disease. In addition to research and articles written about breast cancer, SHN provides an interactive chat forum for its members to exchange information and support, and breast cancer experts from institutions such as UCSF and OHSU also lead topical discussions online with SHN members. About SHN

Headquartered in Portland, Ore., SHN (Sapient Health Network, Inc.) -- http://www.shn.net -- is a free, Web-based health information and support service for people with chronic and serious illnesses, as well as their family and friends. SHN creates condition-specific online communities that enable its over 120,000 members to access personalized information about their condition and participate in interactive support networks via the Web. Healthcare companies turn to SHN to gain insights into patient perspectives through population studies and aggregate-level market research. Through this activity, SHN helps instill the patient perspective in the product development, marketing and delivery systems of its customers. SHN assures that individual data, or information that can be used to identify an individual, will never be disclosed to any third party without that individual's express written consent.