Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

Finding the evidence: do stakeholder views reflect literature priorities for digital health? (#93)

Emma Kemp 1 , Joshua Trigg 2 , Patricia AH Williams 3 , Lisa Beatty 1 2 4 , Haryana Dhillon 5 , Anthony Maeder 3 , Chris Christensen 6 , Vince McCauley 7 , Bogda Koczwara 1 4
  1. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  2. Cancer Council SA, Adelaide, South Australia
  3. Flinders Digital Health Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  4. Medical Oncology, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  5. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  6. Cancer Voices South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  7. Telstra Health, Sydney, Australia

Aims

Despite strong consumer advocacy in cancer, little is known about consumer preferences regarding implementation of digital health technologies in cancer care. This study aimed to compare issues for implementation of digital health in cancer care identified by consumers and other stakeholders with issues identified through a systematic meta-review of international literature, in order to inform the priority-setting process for developing the Australian Digital Health in Cancer Care Roadmap.

Methods

A systematic meta-review of international literature (January 2013-July 2018) was conducted with data extracted by two independent reviewers on barriers, enablers, needs and opportunities for implementation of digital health in cancer care. Concurrently, consultation on implementation of digital health in cancer care was held via focus groups and interviews with stakeholders, to identify barriers, enablers, needs and opportunities specific to the Australian context. Consultation emphasised consumers (people with a history of cancer/cancer caregiving, and health care professionals using digital health). Review and consultation data were thematically analysed (framework analysis).

Results

Analysis of 93 reviews of digital health in cancer care and consultation with 51 stakeholders, including people with a history of cancer/cancer caregiving (14), health care professionals (9), researchers (6), developers (6), non-government cancer care organisation representatives (6), and government/policy representatives (10), indicated 20 themes. While literature focused on websites, online interventions and mHealth, stakeholders often discussed electronic health/medical records. Compared with literature, stakeholders were less focused on evidence and theory, and more often raised issues of ease of use/integration, coordination, disparities, access, privacy/security and confidentiality, and participatory design.

Conclusions

While validity, credibility, and safety of digital health in cancer care are important to Australian stakeholders, issues for implementation raised in consultation centred on practical issues of ‘how to’ implement in ways that improve access and efficiency of cancer care.