UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Cancer patients, friends and relatives actively seek information about the disease during different phases of illness. This information seeking behaviour should be a starting point for patient-oriented information on the Internet. But how can we combine personal needs and general communication satisfactorily? Cancer knowledge should be both high quality and up-to-date. This is a real challenge for many NGOs, which often have limited resources. Developing digital communication on the Internet requires structures where viewers can easily grasp essential information. How to develop meaningful structures and combine Internet with counselling services and personal contacts?

Methods: Internet publishing provides detailed material for analysis, such as patient discussion forums, web monitoring, feedback channels and questionnaires for users. The Internet is often the first place patients go to in search of information. A questionnaire from the viewpoint of information seeking was developed.

Results: Planning information structures should define critical points where patients can use digital sources and when they need more personal contacts. Thus, publishing material for cancer patients on the Internet differs greatly from other information channels and should be planned accordingly. Information seeking behaviour should be seen as a cycle with different phases of activity. The Cancer Society, with its helpline, counselling clinics and support networks has a rich flow of knowledge. Ideally, utilising modern digital tools and silent knowledge within an organisation is the start of fully using the Internet's potential.