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Asking questions of a palliative care nurse practitioner on a pancreatic cancer website

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2014

Marian S. Grant ,
Debra L. Wiegand  and
Sydney M. Dy
Marian S. Grant*
Affiliation:
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
Debra L. Wiegand
Affiliation:
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
Sydney M. Dy
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Marian S. Grant, University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street. Baltimore, Maryland 20201. E-mail: grant@son.umaryland.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

Increasing evidence demonstrates the benefits of online cancer interventions but very little about the needs of those with pancreatic cancer or interaction with online providers. Our study was done to (1) see how many people would visit a webpage where they could interact with a palliative care nurse practitioner (PCNP), (2) see how many would ask the PCNP questions, (3) determine the type of questions, and (4) obtain feedback regarding the usefulness of the webpage.

Method:

Mixed-methods descriptive design.

Results:

There were 2174 visits to the webpage, and a total of 84 participants sent 110 questions/comments. Some 28 (33%) were people worried that they might have pancreatic cancer. Most questions (59, 53%) had to do with palliative care issues, with the largest subgroup (26, 23%) involving psychological concerns. A total of 39 completed an online survey and were relatives (20, 52%), or patients (17, 44%). They rated the webpage at 3.3/4 as being helpful at learning about the physical symptoms/treatments of pancreatic cancer, at 3.1/4 for learning about emotional issues, at 3/4 for learning about palliative care, at 2.8/4 for learning about hospice, and at 3.3/4 for reading other people's questions.

Significance of results:

The PCNP webpage was a helpful resource. Most asking questions were worried about having or getting pancreatic cancer. More research is needed into online providers, interventions, and conducting research online.

Keywords

InternetPancreatic cancerPalliative care
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 787 - 793
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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