Acceptability of touch screen computer psychosocial survey to Japanese radiation therapy patients  — ASN Events

Acceptability of touch screen computer psychosocial survey to Japanese radiation therapy patients  (#645)

Eiji Suzuki 1 , Lisa Mackenzie 2 3 , Masakazu Ogura 4 , Rob Sanson-Fisher 3 , Mariko Carey 3 , Hiromi Asada 4 , Masakazu Toi 1 , Masahiro Hiraoka 4 , Kazue Tatsuno 4 , Catherine D'Este 3 5 6
  1. Breast Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
  2. Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
  3. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  4. Radiation Oncology & Image-applied Therapy, Kyoto University Hospital [2], Kyoto, Japan
  5. Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle [2], Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  6. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Newcastle [3], Newcastle, NSW, Australia

The aim of this study is to examine the acceptability of a touchscreen tablet cancer care survey amongst Japanese radiotherapy patients' views. We will assess the proportion of patients completing the touchscreen survey unassisted, as well as patient self-reported acceptability. Eligible patients attending a university hospital radiation therapy department in Japan are being invited to complete a touchscreen tablet survey about psychosocial communication and care. The planned accrual target is 200. Of the 40 respondents recruited during April 2012, the median age was 69.5 (Q1, Q3: 56.5, 74.5). The touchscreen survey was completed without assistance by 40% (95% CI: 25-57%) of respondents, while 60% (95% CI: 43-75%) required some or full assistance with survey completion from the research assistant or an accompanying person. Preliminary findings suggest that 69% (95% CI: 52%, 83%) of respondents would be willing to complete such a survey more than once while waiting for their radiotherapy treatment. Of the respondents, 92% (95% CI: 79%, 98%) agreed of strongly agreed that they comfortable answering the questions and had enough privacy; 87% (95% CI: 73%, 96%) felt that the electronic touchscreen survey was easy to use and that the instructions were easy to follow; and 77% (95% CI: 61%, 89%) felt that the questions were easy to understand. This work indicated that this style of patient survey is somewhat feasible in a Japanese radiation oncology setting. However, although over two thirds of patients indicated that they would be willing to complete the survey on multiple occasions; under half of the respondents completed the touchscreen tablet survey unassisted. This suggests that touchscreen technology may not be entirely appropriate for this patient group. Socio-demographic characteristics of patients completing the touchscreen survey unassisted will be reported.