The Development of an eHealth tool suite for prostate cancer patients and their partners.

Background: eHealth resources for people facing health crises must balance the expert knowledge and perspective of developers and clinicians against the very different needs and perspectives of prospective users. This formative study explores the information and support needs of posttreatment prostate cancer patients and their partners as a way to improve an existing eHealth information and support system called CHESS (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System).

Methods: Focus groups with patient survivors and their partners were used to identify information gaps and information-seeking milestones.

Results: Both patients and partners expressed a need for assistance in decision making, connecting with experienced patients, and making sexual adjustments. Female partners of patients are more active in searching for cancer information. All partners have information and support needs distinct from those of the patient.

Conclusions: Findings were used to develop a series of interactive tools and navigational features for the CHESS prostate cancer computer-mediated system.