ComCancer: Use of Let's Discuss Health Website by Patients With Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radiation Oncology Treatment

ComCancer - Integration Into the Radiation Oncology Care Trajectory of the Let's Discuss Health Website and Evaluation of Its Effects in Patients With Prostate Cancer

In Canada, the prevalence of cancer is growing and contributes significantly to health costs. The prevention and treatment of cancer is a major concern of our health system. Many men with prostate cancer develop psychological distress. The emotional consequences of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments can prevent patients from communicating effectively with their healthcare team. It is recognized that the quality of communication between cancer patients and their caregivers plays an important role in the management of their disease. However, few tools are being developed to help clinicians and patients better communicate and decrease patients' psychological distress. Let's Discuss Health (www.discutonssante.ca) is a French-language website that offers several tools to support collaboration between caregivers and cancer patients.

The objectives of this research project are to assess the experience of using the Let's Discuss Health website and the impact of its use on the quality of communication between radiation oncologists and patients, the level of distress of patients with prostate cancer, recall of the information discussed as well as adherence to the trajectory in radiation oncology.

The project will take place in three radiation oncology centers in Quebec. Two groups of prostate cancer patients will be recruited. Patients in the first group will be assessed on the basis of regular consultations and those in the second group will be encouraged to prepare for their medical visits using the Let's Discuss Health website. Patients and their caregivers will answer short questionnaires before and after four targeted consultations (initial visit, mid-treatment visit, end-of-treatment visit and 3-month post-treatment visit). Focus groups will also be organized to explore the impact of the website.

This project offers the potential to transform clinical practices in radiation oncology to reduce the burden of cancer and improve the quality of care offered to patients with cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• have a diagnosis of prostate cancer
• understand, speak and read French
• report being comfortable using the Internet
• have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone or know someone who does and is willing to accompany them

Exclusion Criteria:

• being considered unfit to give free and informed consent (e.g. dementia, severe psychiatric condition)
• any other clinical reason (poor health of the patient at the time of the consultation) that the clinician deems relevant