Usability Testing of a Web-based Tool to Prepare Patients for Palliative Care
Usability Testing of a Web-based Tool to Prepare Patients for Palliative Care
The purpose of this study is to test the usability of PCforMe, a web-based preparation and engagement tool about palliative care, during a pre-visit pilot trial in outpatient palliative care at the Duke Cancer Institute Palliative Care Clinic.
The Investigator will 1:1 randomize patients to an Active Control arm or Intervention arm. Both arms will receive a tablet computer (iPad or Galaxy Tab based on preference) connected to the internet with disposable headphones to use for up to 30 minutes. Subjects in the Active Control arm will receive a list of three nationally-recognized websites to receive information on palliative care - www.palliativedoctors.org; getpalliativecare.org; and Wikipedia "Palliative Care" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palliative\_care). Intervention Arm subjects will receive access to PCforMe.
PCforMe is an online, web-based, interactive tool to prepare patients for a clinical palliative care encounter. PCforMe is accessible through www.pcforme.org. It does not collect any patient information, including identifiers (e.g. name, email address, disease, location) or health information (e.g. disease, symptom severity or location). The system uses a combination of animated videos and user-answered questions to generate a "Palliative Care Passport", which is a summary of information entered into the system. Research staff will print out the Passport for patients and hand it to them prior to the appointment.
Queries for users include standard-of-care questions asked by palliative care clinicians, including areas that patients want to more learn about. No diagnoses, medication advice, or clinical assessments are made or given.
Inclusion Criteria:
Potential participants will be identified by reviewing clinic appointment listings in EPIC (e.g., diagnosis, date of diagnosis, date of clinic appointment, physician), and deemed eligible by the RA by meeting the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: