| dc.description.abstract | This integrative review aims at providing an overview of supportive educational e-health
programs, which have been offered to cancer patients, in order to gather more knowledge as to
how such interventions have been designed, implemented and who is to benefit from such
approaches. Moreover, in this comprehensive summary, the resulting explanatory model is
discussed in the light of empowerment.
Following the methodological suggestions of Whittemore (2005) PubMed, CINAHL and
PsycINFO were searched for abstracts matching the eligibility criteria since the year 2000 until
November 2010. Articles were considered for inclusion if they concerned supportive educational
interventions, delivered through the Internet or resorting to a CD-ROM or DVD, and having
adult patients diagnosed with cancer as the target population.
Eighteen quantitative empirical studies constituted the final sample of this research review. The
most common target population was women with breast cancer. The overall purposes of the
reviewed interventions were: to provide informational, educational and emotional support; and to
improve self-care behaviours. Mainly pedagogical theories gave structure to the interventions.
Outcomes that were positively affected were: healthcare information and knowledge, healthcare
participation, social support, quality of life, self-care ability, and coping.
Supportive educational e-health interventions have been developed in the past few years taking
into advantage the increasingly use of the Internet by patients for search for health information
and support. Nonetheless, more knowledge is needed regarding the process sustaining such
interventions, and empowerment on the light of the self-determination theory is likely to
contribute to the missing structure. | sv |
