Patients with cancer continue to lack practical information regarding their illness and report low levels of awareness and use of patient services. The challenge to educators is to find cost-effective and timely ways to deliver a complex mix of interesting and high-quality information and expertise to this large and diverse audience, while still tailoring the content to individual needs and situations. The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) computer-based patient education program is aimed toward empowering those dealing with cancer by providing comprehensive medical information and support via an interactive Intranet Web-Site hosting the Oncology InteractiveTM Education Series (OIES). This 23 title, cancer site-based CD-ROM series (e.g., lung, melanoma, and breast cancer) contains comprehensive cancer-related medical information. Web Site users can also access library resources, Internet links, information about PMH services, and a hospital calendar of events. A poster and accompanying electronic demonstration of the Patient Education Web Site will be presented.

This session will demonstrate modules found in the Patient Education Web Site, including:

About Your Cancer - houses the OIES. Users are able to choose from a menu listing 23 cancer site-specific CD-ROMs (i.e., breast, skin/sarcoma, lung). Each multimedia title provides site-specific information about disease prevention, early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, stages, treatment options, nutrition, pain management, new research, psychosocial care, community support services, and provides answers to a number of frequently asked questions. Additional program features include integrated Internet updates to ensure that the information remains current, bookmark and history list features, and vetted Internet links. Patient and Families Libraries - stores and indexes hospital publications.

Users can access the on-line catalogue for the Patient and Family Resource Centers collection of books, videos, audiotapes, and pamphlets. The on-line catalogue provides various search fields (i.e., title, author, subject, publisher, language, material type) to search for information. In addition, this service provides patients with a list of vetted Internet links to other cancer-related resources that are accessible from the computer. Discover More Interesting Information - provides users with information regarding PMH services, support groups, and information sessions. Upcoming Events - contains the PMH calendar of events, listing upcoming events at PMH.

About Patient Education - provides users with the Mission Statement of the Patient Education Department and contact names and numbers. About the PMH Foundation - contains an overview of the Foundation's mandate and provides contact names and numbers.

1. To experience a hands-on tour and discussion of the Patient Education Web Site. 2. To understand the use of CD-ROM, Web Site, Intranet and Internet

technology in a patient education program in oncology.

Joyce Nyhof-Young
Princess Margaret Hospital 5-312
610 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5G 2M9
Phone: (416) 946-4501 X 5838
Fax: (416) 946-4442
Email: joyce.nyhof-young@uhn.on.ca

CO-AUTHORS:

Dr. Jennifer Jones
Princess Margaret Hospital 5-318
610 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5G 2M9
Phone: (416) 946-4501 X 5533
Fax: (416) 946-4442
Email: jennifer.jones@uhn.on.ca