The Washington D.C.-based eHealth Initiative (eHI) has unveiled a resource guide, aiming to help cancer patients, their families, caregivers, and support networks better understand what digitals tools and technologies are available to treat and cope with the disease. The Health IT Cancer Resources Guide lists 76 tools ranging from mobile applications to web sites to social networks that aim to improve cancer care.
“The Health IT Cancer Resources Guide will help patients become aware of and take advantage of the many outstanding digital resources available today that can help them understand their condition, make informed treatment decisions, anticipate their care needs, and connect with others who have had similar experiences,” Jennifer Covich Bordenick, CEO of eHI, said in a statement.
eHI’s National Council on Cancer and Technology developed the guide, working in concert with representatives from American Cancer Society and American Society of Clinical Oncologists. They based it on findings from the Issue Brief on eHealth Tools and Cancer Care, a review of 124 articles, which examined how telemedicine, mobile health, internet-based technologies and social media are being used in cancer care today. The guide is divided into five sections: decision making, education, treatment management, social support, and lifestyle management.
“We hope this guide will be a valuable and unique resource for patients, family caregivers, and medical professionals to help patients understand and manage their care most effectively,” Len Lichtenfeld, M.D., CMO of the American Cancer Society and eHI board member, said in a statement.
