Application of a novel transdisciplinary communication technique to develop an Internet-based psychoeducational program: CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this work was is to create CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, an Internet-based, self-guided psychoeducational program to facilitate adjustment among women in the first months after breast cancer diagnosis.

Background: Use of Internet technology addresses a gap in the delivery of psychoeducational clinical interventions immediately after breast cancer diagnosis; providing rapid access to information and guidance during a highly distressing and vital period of adjustment.

Methods: A multi-step transdisciplinary communication process of Personae Creation, Layered Project Mapping©, and Rapid Iterative Prototyping (RIP) was applied to facilitate communication between researcher, technology team and content reviewers during clinical program development.

Results: Through three rounds of content review and two focus groups guided by this process, the reviewers, researcher and technology team communicated effectively; completing the project on-time and within budget.

Conclusions: Application of a multi-step transdisciplinary communication process is feasible and essential to development of an Internet-based psychoeducational program.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Internet-based psychoeducation; Transdisciplinary communication.