Cancer Patients Value the Internet!Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers MEMPHIS Memphis, city, ancient Egypt Memphis (mĕm`fĭs), ancient city of Egypt, capital of the Old Kingdom (c.3100–c.2258 B.C.), at the apex of the Nile delta and 12 mi (18 km) from Cairo. , Tenn.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 2, 2000 Imagine a close friend or relative was found to have a new diagnosis of cancer. Where should they turn for help? A recent Internet-based research study found that patients reported that cancer information on the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the was very useful for providing general disease and treatment information, and to search for clinical trials of new cancer therapies. Further, most patients reported that they were greatly helped by the Internet since their cancer diagnosis, and nearly two-thirds of patients would greatly recommend the Internet resources they have identified to other patients. This study, entitled en·ti·tle tr.v. en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling, en·ti·tles 1. To give a name or title to. 2. To furnish with a right or claim to something: "Cancer Patients and the Internet," was sponsored by the Patient Advocate Foundation and performed utilizing Oncosurvey.com(TM), the proprietary Internet-based market research tool developed by CancerConsultants.com. "We were excited by the results of this survey. It shows that information is an important tool in patient advocacy Patient advocacy refers to speaking on behalf of a patient in order to protect their rights and help them obtain needed information and services. The role of patient advocate is frequently assumed by nurses, social workers, and other healthcare providers. ," reports Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Executive Director of the Patient Advocate foundation. The recently published study revealed that the most highly sought information by cancer patients was information concerning the actual treatment of cancer and/or the availability of cancer clinical trials. Importantly, patients felt that this information was best provided by cancer specialty web sites, such as 411Cancer.com(TM) and Oncolink.com. Moreover, patients trusted the information on cancer specialty sites more than general medical sites or industry-based sites. Patients appear to be spending time "Spending Time" is the first single released by Christian artist Stellar Kart. The lyrics describe the band members desire to spend "more time with God". "Sometimes it’s a real struggle to spend time with God. selecting the sites that most meet their information needs, with almost half of patients visiting 10 or more sites to identify the information they need. Currently, fewer than 5% of patients interact with their physician or healthcare provider over the Internet. However, the overwhelming majority of patients stated that they hope to use the Internet to interact with their physicians in the future. An additional interest, patients believe that the Internet will become increasing important to help them define treatment options, to obtain access to clinical trials, and to obtain access to other new or innovative cutting edge therapies in the future. Patients also believe that the Internet will play an increasingly important role in helping them to identify physicians and cancer treatment providers for the services they seek. The report, "Cancer Patients and the Internet," further details the demographics The attributes of people in a particular geographic area. Used for marketing purposes, population, ethnic origins, religion, spoken language, income and age range are examples of demographic data. of cancer patient Internet users Internet user n → internauta m/f Internet user Internet n → internaute m/f , the types of sites and services visited and trusted, and identifies issues and services cancer patients are seeking on the Internet. The report can be obtained through the Patient Advocate Foundation by calling 800/532-5274 or sending an e-mail request to rcm@patientadvocate.org. About Patient Advocate Foundation Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer An individual or company who, through a contractual agreement, undertakes to compensate specified losses, liability, or damages incurred by another individual. An insurer is frequently an insurance company and is also known as an underwriter. , employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job discrimination and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers, doctors and attorneys. Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation mediation, in law, type of intervention in which the disputing parties accept the offer of a third party to recommend a solution for their controversy. Mediation has long been a part of international law, frequently involving the use of an international commission, assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability. About CancerConsultants.com, Inc. CancerConsultants.com (CC.com) operates and markets business-to-business and business-to-consumer internet solutions for providers of cancer services through its web sites: www.411Cancer.com, providing comprehensive cancer treatment information; www.911Cancer.com, helping providers promote specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. cancer treatment services; www.eCancerTrials.com, facilitating online recruitment of patients to cancer clinical trials; and www.Oncosurvey.com, a market research and e-detailing program that facilitates rapid survey implementation and data collection from targeted physicians and patients. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion