College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Int J Older People Nurs. 2020 Jun;15(2):e12303. doi: 10.1111/opn.12303. Epub 2020 Jan 10.
Older adults with cancer have unique information and supportive care needs. There is a growing body of literature regarding the use of Internet health information, but less is known about the use of the Internet for cancer information amongst older adults with cancer.
This is a secondary analysis of qualitative data from a mixed-methods study of the use of cancer-related Internet information amongst adults with cancer. In the present study, we include transcripts from two samples: 34 interviews with adults over age 55 (n = 17) with cancer, and interviews and focus groups with healthcare professionals (n = 21). Data were analysed using thematic analysis with an interest in age-related themes.
Our findings are grouped into three main themes: (a) independently augmenting healthcare services and supports; (b) supporting and situating information; and (c) mobilising family and support networks. Patients and healthcare providers described cancer-related Internet information as a beneficial resource to address gaps in information and supplement information from healthcare professionals from diagnosis and throughout treatment. Older adults reported using cancer-related Internet information to manage their cancer experience, although sometimes feeling technologically hesitant. However, healthcare professionals felt older adults were less likely than younger patients to seek cancer information from the Internet.
The use of cancer-related Internet information is growing amongst older adults with cancer. Older adults mobilise technology uniquely. Healthcare professionals can support these efforts by being aware and through initiating dialogue about information preferences.
癌症老年患者有独特的信息和支持性护理需求。越来越多的文献涉及互联网健康信息的使用，但对于癌症老年患者使用互联网获取癌症信息的情况了解较少。
这是一项混合方法研究的定性数据分析的二次分析，该研究旨在调查癌症患者使用与癌症相关的互联网信息的情况。在本研究中，我们包括了两个样本的转录本：34 名 55 岁以上（n=17）癌症患者的访谈，以及与医疗保健专业人员（n=21）的访谈和焦点小组。使用主题分析对数据进行分析，关注与年龄相关的主题。
我们的研究结果分为三个主要主题：（a）独立补充医疗服务和支持；（b）支持和定位信息；（c）调动家庭和支持网络。患者和医疗保健提供者将癌症相关的互联网信息描述为一个有益的资源，可以解决信息差距，并补充医疗专业人员从诊断到治疗期间提供的信息。老年患者报告说使用与癌症相关的互联网信息来管理他们的癌症经历，尽管有时会感到技术上犹豫不决。然而，医疗保健专业人员认为，与年轻患者相比，老年患者不太可能从互联网上获取癌症信息。
癌症老年患者使用与癌症相关的互联网信息的情况正在增加。老年患者以独特的方式利用技术。医疗保健专业人员可以通过了解情况并就信息偏好展开对话来支持这些努力。
