MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Identifying Oncological Patient Information Needs to Improve e-Health Communication: a preliminary text-mining analysis


    Falotico, Rosa, Liberati, Caterina and Zappa, Paola (2015) Identifying Oncological Patient Information Needs to Improve e-Health Communication: a preliminary text-mining analysis. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 31 (7). pp. 1115-1126. ISSN 0748-8017

    [thumbnail of PZ_Identifying_2015.pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    PZ_Identifying_2015.pdf

    Download (438kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Extant healthcare literature has demonstrated that providing oncological patients with detailed, continuous, and diversified information on their pathology positively affects patient empowerment and care continuum effectiveness. Medical information is traditionally conveyed by physicians and professional care givers. In the latest years, however, there has been a rapid rise in the use of web media as a source of health information. Improving cancer care continuum requires also the implementation of a reliable and high-quality oncological web communication system, as well as a deeper understanding of patients’ requirements in this respect. To the best of our knowledge, however, no papers have investigated the importance and role of web communication, and of websites, in particular. This work aims to address these aspects explicitly, proposing the use of text mining as a tool for identifying oncological patient communication needs. For this purpose, we conducted an exploratory study on a sample of rare cancer patients. Text mining techniques were applied on transcriptions of semi-structured interviews on patients’ information requirements, and the text content was synthetized. By means of correspondence analysis, the main concepts expressed by patients were identified, and the association between patients and concepts was represented in an appropriate metric space. Although our study is at an early stage, the findings highlighted by this preliminary text mining analysis could support the design of a patient-centered e-health communication system and be the basis for further analysis.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: oncological patient empowerment; oncological patient communication needs; health communication; web content; text mining; correspondence analysis;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business
    Item ID: 11292
    Identification Number: DOI: 10.1002/qre.1853
    Depositing User: Paola Zappa
    Date Deposited: 16 Oct 2019 10:51
    Journal or Publication Title: Quality and Reliability Engineering International
    Publisher: Wiley & Sons
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/11292
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads