Usability and acceptance evaluation of ACESO: a Web-based breast cancer survivorship tool
Abstract
Purpose The specific objective of this research is to design and develop a personalized Web application to support breast cancer survivors after treatment, as they deal with post-treatment challenges, such as comorbidities and side effects of treatment.Methodology A mixed-methods approach, utilizing a combination of think-aloud analysis, personal interviews, and surveys, was adopted for user acceptance and usability testing among a group of breast cancer survivors. User feedback was gathered on their perceived value of the application, and any user-interface issues that may hinder the overall usability were identified.Results The application's portability and capability of organizing their entire breast cancer-related medical history as well as tracking various quality of life indicators were perceived to be valuable features. The application had an overall high usability; however, certain sections of the application were not as intuitive to locate. Visual elements of the website were appreciated; however, overall experience would benefit from incorporating more sociable elements that exhibit positive re-enforcement within the end user and provide a friendlier experience.Conclusion The results of the study showcase the need for more personalized tools and resources to support survivors in self-management. It also demonstrates the ability to integrate breast cancer survivorship care plans from diverse providers and paves the way to add further value-added features in consumer health applications, such as personal decision support.Implications for cancer survivors Using a personal decision support-based tool can serve as a training tool and resource, providing these patients with pertinent information about the various aspects of their long-term health, while educating them about any related side effects and symptoms. It is hoped that making such tools more accessible could help in engaging survivors to play an active role in managing their health and encourage shared decision-making with their providers.
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Previous research suggests that single-page websites or apps with properly labeled interactions and different color depths, familiar icons, and images are more usable and acceptable to cancer survivors.
“Previous research has yielded comparable results [64,65,69-71], suggesting that single-page websites or apps that enable properly labeled interactions and make use of different color depths, familiar icons, and images are more usable and acceptable to cancer survivors.”
From Development and Evaluation of the Usefulness, Usability, and Feasibility of iNNOV Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study (2022) · cites this paper as [64]
Survivors valued access to ubiquitous evidence-based self-care information organized according to the cancer continuum, considering it could help them better manage and cope with their condition and problems.
“Similar to previous research [64-66], survivors valued having access to ubiquitous evidence-based self-care information that was organized in accordance with the cancer continuum, considering that it could help them better manage and cope with their condition and problems.”
From Development and Evaluation of the Usefulness, Usability, and Feasibility of iNNOV Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study (2022) · cites this paper as [64]
These findings echo many limitations and development requirements gathered in previous research aimed at developing digital programs for supporting cancer survivors.
“These findings echo many of the limitations and development requirements gathered in previous research aimed at developing digital programs for supporting cancer survivors [64,65,68-73].”
From Development and Evaluation of the Usefulness, Usability, and Feasibility of iNNOV Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study (2022) · cites this paper as [64]
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- Authors
- Kapoor, A., & Nambisan, P.
- Affiliations
- East Carolina University (US)
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kapoor, Akshat
- Nambisan, Priya
- Venue
- Journal of Cancer Survivorship
- Published
- 2018-01-25
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 316-325
- ISSN
- 1932-2259 (ISSN-L)
- 1932-2267
- OpenAlex
- W2786902478
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Cancer Survivorship (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Keywords
- breast cancer survivors, web-based health application, usability evaluation, user acceptance, survivorship care, self-management, treatment side effects, comorbidities, shared decision-making, patient-provider communication, health information organization
- MeSH terms
- Psychosocial Support Systems, Cancer Survivors, Survivorship, Adult, Aftercare, Breast Neoplasms, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Internet
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