Feasibility and Acceptability of a Web Site to Promote Survivorship Care in Survivors of Hodgkin Disease.

PURPOSE

Evaluate rates of enrollment, completion, and patient-reported acceptability of an educational survivorship-care Web site for survivors of Hodgkin disease (HD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was a mixed-method evaluation design. Eligible participants were adults who had completed treatment of a primary diagnosis of HD ≥ 2 years before enrollment. Patients were recruited through postal mail and telephone and were asked to review a Web site, complete an adapted version of the Acceptability E-scale (total score of 24 or greater indicates acceptability), and respond to a structured telephone or e-mail interview to discuss experiences with the Web site.

RESULTS

Of 259 potentially eligible participants identified by medical record review, 124 survivors had confirmed contact with study staff and were invited to participate; 63 people (50.8%; 90% CI, 43% to 59%) enrolled; 37 participants (58.7%) were men. The median age at time of enrollment was 51.0 years (range, 29.3 to 80.0 years), and the median time since completion of treatment of HD was 14.9 years (range, 3 to 38.75 years). Overall, 82.5% of those enrolled viewed all Web site content. Forty-eight participants completed the acceptability survey, which resulted in a mean acceptability score of 26.5 (standard deviation, 3.5). The majority of enrollees (67%) completed a follow-up interview.

CONCLUSION

Overall, HD survivor participants viewed the content and reviewed it favorably. A Web-based intervention is a promising way to provide survivors of HD with information about how to manage the long-term and late effects from cancer and treatment, and provide trusted survivorship resources.