Age-related trends in utilization of the internet and electronic communication devices for coordination of cancer care in elderly patients Abdul Saied a , Steven J. Sherry b , Donna J. Castricone c , Kathleen M. Perry c , Steven C. Katz a , Ponnandai Somasundar a, ⁎ a Department of Surgery, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA b Department of Medicine, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA c Cancer Center, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Received 16 June 2013 Received in revised form 22 August 2013 Accepted 12 November 2013 Objectives: In this rapidly changing electronic era, we implemented a study to define age dependent variations in access and use of internet and electronic devices in the exchange of healthcare related information (HRI) and coordination of clinical care (CCC) among elderly patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: Data was collected through independently completed surveys after obtaining IRB approval in a single institution cancer center over a 4-month period. Questions regarding internet access and use of electronic media to obtain health information and coordinate care were distributed. The sample was divided in two groups based upon the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of geriatric patients: <65 y/o (group A) and ≥ 65 y/o (group B). Results: One hundred and twenty-six surveys were analyzed with 70 patients in group A and 56 patients in group B. Access to the internet and use of email was higher in the group A (77% and 71%) vs. group B (36% and 33%, p < 0.001). The younger group felt more comfortable using the internet when compared to the older group (70% vs. 40%, p = 0.01). Patients in group B demonstrated a strong preference for paper copy based HRI and phone calls to CCC than text messages or emails (73% and 95%, p < 0.001). A transition zone between the ages of 65 and 70 years was defined to identify patients with increased reluctance to use internet and electronic devices to exchange HRI and CCC. Conclusion: The data supports that there is an age-defined underutilization of internet and electronic devices to exchange HRI and CCC. Characterization of this age-dependent transition zone will enable clinicians to identify patients who may not interface well with electronic communication strategies, and to improve delivery of HRI and CCC for the elderly. Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Elderly Communication Internet Email Cancer care 1. Introduction Communication with patients with cancer has unique char- acteristics that make it different from communication in other healthcare contexts. Patients with cancer diagnoses engage the healthcare system in several situations: screening, diagnosis, multi-modality therapy, post-cancer treatment, and survivorship programs. Care of patients with cancer JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC ONCOLOGY XX (2013) XXX – XXX ⁎ Corresponding author at: Department of Surgery, Roger Williams Medical Center, 825 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908, USA. Tel.: +1 401 456 4897; fax: +1 401 456 6708. E-mail address: psomasundar@chartercare.org (P. Somasundar). JGO-00188; No. of pages: 5; 4C: 1879-4068/$ – see front matter. Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2013.11.001 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Please cite this article as: Saied A, et al, Age-related trends in utilization of the internet and electronic communication devices for coordination of cancer care in elderly ..., J Geriatr Oncol (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2013.11.001