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Communication with Parents and Patients Throughout the Cancer Treatment Process. A Comparison of the Online Media of The Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Tufts Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children.
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Communication with Parents and Patients Throughout the Cancer Treatment Process A Comparison of the Online Media of The Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Tufts Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children Sarah Soffer Tufts University School of Medicine-PHPD MPH in Health Communication Candidate
Dana Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center • Comprehensive Cancer Treatment • Physical, Psychosocial, Mental Health • In-House Supportive Services and Resources • Long-term Follow-Up Care and Support • Target Audience: Parents of Prospective Patients, Survivors of Pediatric Cancer
SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Health literacy issue in some YouTube videos Lack of kid-friendly educational resources for patients Limited interactive media Difficult to navigate between sites Multiple twitter and facebook accounts Not well targeted • Strong Online Presence • Recognizable Institutes • Large amount of educational material for parents • Anecdotal information for parents • Multiple formats to media • Visually appealing media
SWOT Analysis (cont’d) Opportunities Threats Large amount of unreliable information circulating Appeal of instead visiting single-institution cancer care center websites • High demand for cancer-related educational materials • Parent and patient • High/Increasing online presence of pediatric and parent populations
Recommendations for Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Low Resource Resource Intensive Portion of website with patient-directed explanations of Treatment Services Fleisch-Kincaid Revision of YouTube Informational Videos Interactive Introductions to Facility and Staff Tour • Creation of Center-specific Twitter and Facebook Accounts
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital • Comprehensive Treatment of Pediatric Cancer • Survivorship Care and Support • Radiation Oncology, General Oncology, and Cancer Prevention Research • Clinical Trials of Cancer Treatment • Need-blind Accommodation • Fundraising • Target Audience- Parents of Prospective Patients, Survivors of Pediatric Cancer
SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Health Literacy Issue with media for parents Lack of age appropriate educational materials for patients Survivorship materials aimed at adults, not adolescents Lack of visual appeal Lack of anecdotal/video-based education on YouTube • Highly publicized • Written resources for former patients and parents • Survivorship portion of website • Strong YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter presence • Easy to Navigate
SWOT Analysis (cont’d) Opportunities Threats Inaccurate or misleading cancer-related websites Competition from other cancer-related charities Emphasis on fundraising and research • Parents and patients eager to seek and receive information • Nationally recognized organization • Strong celebrity connections
Recommendations for St. Jude’s Low Resource Resource Intensive Separate portion of website targeted at current/prospective patients Fleisch-Kincaid revision of illness descriptions Patient-perspective YouTube videos Survivorship portion directed at adolescents/young adults More visual, relevant • Twitter targeting current patients and families
Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center • “Promote Health and Prevent Disease” • Treat Pediatric Cancer Patients • Long Term Survivorship Care • Add to Research on More Effective Treatments and Forms of Prevention • Target Audience- Parents of Prospective Patients
SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Lack of Specific YouTube and Twitter Accounts Low Video Quality No Descriptions of Illnesses Limited Interactive Components No Information Aimed at Patient • Visually Appealing Website • Lots of Information for Parents • Health Literacy Considerations • Ease of Navigation • Many Specific Descriptions of Available Family Services • Financial, Educational, Support
SWOT Analysis (cont’d) Opportunities Threats More Visible Treatment Centers Great Deal of Incorrect of Misleading Cancer-Related Information • Parents and Patients Eager to Seek and Receive Information • Newly Implemented Reid R. Saco AYA Clinic • Recently Received AYA Website Grant
Recommendations for the Floating Hospital Low Resource Resource Intensive Separate Section Speaking Directly to Children Outlining Services, What to Expect Interactive Component Separate Survivorship and Long Term Care Section • Separate Facebook Account for Cancer Center • Create YouTube Account to House Existing Videos • Add Explanations of Diseases in Index