Evaluating Oncology Patients' Readiness for Digital Mental Health Solutions in Czech Clinical Settings
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Objective: The RCT on a mobile health app's efficacy for oncology patients' mental support at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Czech Republic, uncovers initial eHealth implementation challenges. This study presents target demographic statistics, evaluates readiness, and reports initial dropout rates for a digital mental health application among breast cancer patients. Methods: Coordinators personally recruited patients who met the inclusion criteria. To reach the target population, a media campaign has been running through advertising banners in waiting rooms, podcasts, radio broadcasts, websites, social media, and approximately 5,000 leaflets. Results: Of the 574 approached patients, 58% declined participation, with a mean age of 61 years (SD ± 11.9), citing disinterest in psychological interventions, no personal mobile device, time constraints, or low tech skills. The consenting patients' mean age was 53 years (SD ± 11.6), with a 10% dropout rate before the intervention began. Conclusion Implications: The results indicate that readiness for digital mental health applications is influenced by age and access to technology. To address the engagement of older generations, strategies to enhance eHealth accessibility are essential. Implications for reducing attrition in future studies are currently under discussion. |
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