A. Marcus (Ed.): DUXU/HCII 2013, Part II, LNCS 8013, pp. 417–423, 2013.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Exploring the Need for, and Feasibility of, a Web-Based
Self-management Resource for Teenage and Young
Adult Cancer Survivors in the UK
Louise Moody
1
, Andy Turner
2
, Jane Osmond
1
, Joanna Kosmala-Anderson
2
,
Louise Hooker
3
, and Lynn Batehup
4
1
Centre of Excellence in Product & Automotive Design, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
{L.Moody,J.Osmond}@coventry.ac.uk
2
Applied Research Centre in Health & Lifestyle Interventions, Coventry University, UK
{A.Turner,J.Kosmala-Anderson}@coventry.ac.uk
3
Teenage & Young Adult Cancer Service, University of Southampton Hospital NHSFT, UK
Louise.Hooker@uhs.nhs.uk
4
Macmillan Cancer Support, UK
LBatehup@macmillan.org.uk
Abstract. The growth in social networking sites and online forums make the
internet a potential platform to be considered for the provision of self-
management and e-learning support to young people following cancer
treatment. However, the feasibility and potential barriers to this as a post
treatment option should be considered. A mixed methods approach was adopted
that included an online survey, focus groups and interviews with cancer
survivors, their parents, and information technology, clinical and social work
professionals to consider the potential of aweb-based self-management
resource.Barriers were identified to the delivery of care using this method.
Developing such a self-management system requires close working between IT
and clinical staff, alongside patient representation and usability expertise. As
computer access and use amongst this group is commonplace, there is an
expectation that self-management needs will be met at least partially in this way
in the future.
Keywords: Web-based self-management, young cancer survivors, online
support.
1 Introduction
Due to earlier diagnosis and advanced treatments, it is estimated that nearly three-
quarters of British teenage and young adults who develop cancer now survive [1].
Since the population of young cancer survivors is constantly growing, there is an
urgent need to develop a range of alternative ways of providing post-treatment
support as well as addressing on-going self-management issues [2-3].
The growth in social networking sites and online forums make the internet
potentially an ideal platform on which to provide self-management and e-learning