Aim and objectives:
The aim was to improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients, while emphasizing the importance of access to clear, understandable, and professionally verified information in the treatment process and health-related decision-making.
Target group:
Women undergoing diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, and healthcare professionals, particularly within primary healthcare settings.
Method:
The study was conducted during a six-week period in late 2024 with the goal of examining the experiences of women diagnosed with breast cancer in communication with healthcare professionals.
- cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire;
- the questionnaire consisted of 23 questions covering sociodemographic characteristics, experiences in communication with healthcare professionals, understanding and accessibility of information, and challenges related to returning to work after treatment;
- analysis of open-ended responses, through which several dominant themes were identified: lack of empathy and psychological support, difficult-to-understand information, limited opportunities to ask questions.
In response to the identified needs, the OncoGuide - Breast Cancer Serbia platform was developed through multidisciplinary collaboration between experts in oncology, oncogenetics, public health, epidemiology, communications, information technologies, and patient advocacy.
Outcome:
The platform serves as a digital guide through the entire patient journey of early and metastatic breast cancer, from the first suspicion of disease and diagnosis, through treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care. Particular emphasis was placed on translating medical terminology into clear and accessible language, and patient rights during treatment and when returning to work.
Added value:
OncoGuide represents an example of collaboration between patient organizations, healthcare experts, and the public health sector in developing innovative models of patient support in the contemporary digital environment, with the potential to contribute in the long term to improved health literacy, quality of communication, and treatment outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
The further development of the platform will include more detailed information about inherited breast cancer, somatic mutations in breast cancer and possibilities to preserve reproductive health of patients.
