The effect of medical information being transported via digital tools, on the level of knowledge of general medical issues and breast cancer among breast cancer patients

Joseph Azuri, Chen Abo

Background:

Breast cancer is a significant global health issue, requiring effective strategies to enhance patient knowledge for better health outcomes. Telemedicine has emerged as a critical tool in bridging gaps in patient education, offering accessible and personalized digital medical information. While the potential of telemedicine for improving patient knowledge is widely acknowledged, its specific impact on breast cancer patients remains underexplored. This study investigates how telemedicine platforms influence knowledge levels among breast cancer patients, addressing a crucial gap in the literature.

Research questions:

How does access to telemedicine-provided digital medical information impact breast cancer patients’ understanding of general medical issues and breast cancer-specific knowledge?

Method:

This quantitative study recruited 307 breast cancer patients from a closed Facebook support group. Participants were randomly divided into intervention (telemedicine-provided digital information) and control (no additional information) groups. The intervention group accessed validated medical resources tailored for breast cancer patients via telemedicine platforms before completing a comprehensive knowledge questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and descriptive statistics to compare knowledge scores between the groups.

Results:

Participants in the intervention group scored significantly higher on the knowledge questionnaire compared to the control group (mean: 75.4 vs. 68.2, p<0.001, 95% CI: 5.4-9.0). Satisfaction levels were also higher among intervention participants (mean satisfaction: 4.2 vs. 3.5, p<0.001). However, digital literacy emerged as a key factor influencing the assimilation and satisfaction with the provided information.

Conclusions:

Telemedicine platforms significantly improve breast cancer patients’ knowledge levels, demonstrating their potential as an effective patient education tool. The findings highlight telemedicine’s efficacy in enhancing knowledge acquisition and providing a stress-free and convenient learning environment. By addressing barriers such as digital literacy, healthcare systems can maximize the benefits of telemedicine, improving patient outcomes and reducing disparities in health education.

Points for discussion:

How can telemedicine platforms be optimized to address digital literacy challenges among patients?

What are the best practices for integrating telemedicine into patient education frameworks to improve knowledge retention?

How can telemedicine systems ensure equity in access and usability across diverse patient populations?

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