Usage of a Web-Based Workplace and Symptom Self-Management Intervention Tool to Improve Work Ability for Breast Cancer Survivors.

ABSTRACT

This work aimed to evaluate the usage of a web-based intervention (WISE Work ability Improvement through Symptom and Ergonomic strategies) developed to improve work ability for women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Twenty-two women undergoing adjuvant treatment for breast cancer were provided access to WISE. This website includes content pages (e.g., information on ergonomics, symptom management, and other work-related resources) and worksheets (e.g., journals to track symptoms or goals). It could be personalized based on individual work activities and symptoms. Measures assessed at 3 months included usage of the website and perceived usefulness. Thirteen of the 22 participants (60%) accessed WISE; 11 personalized their information. Content and worksheet pages had 97 and 79 visits, respectively. Most frequently visited pages were "setting goals" (i.e., prioritize and track symptoms; 45 visits) and "steps to creating your WISE plan" (i.e., incorporate symptom and ergonomic strategies; 16 visits). Median duration time was 11.05 (range 0.35-79.55) minutes. Usefulness of the content and worksheet pages assessed via a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree) was 5.08 (SD = 1.59) and 4.26 (SD = 2.03), respectively. Participants were likely to recommend WISE to other women undergoing cancer treatment (mean = 6.11; SD = 1.05). The majority of participants personalized WISE work and symptom strategies. Overall, participants agreed that WISE content pages were useful and would recommend WISE for other breast cancer survivors. Results support that majority of breast cancer survivors, undergoing treatment with curative intent, accessed a web-based intervention that provided personalized information on workplace and symptom strategies.