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  Strong Online Presence  Recognizable Institutes  Large amount of educational material for parents  Anecdotal information for parents  Multiple formats to media  Visually appealing media 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

SWOT Analysis (cont’d)

Opportunities  High demand for cancer related educational materials  Parent and patient  High/Increasing online presence of pediatric and parent populations Threats  Large amount of unreliable information circulating  Appeal of instead visiting single-institution cancer care center websites

Recommendations for Dana Farber/Boston Children’s

Low Resource  Creation of Center-specific Twitter and Facebook Accounts 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

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

  Written resources for former patients and parents  Survivorship portion of website  Strong YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter presence  Easy to Navigate 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

SWOT Analysis (cont’d)

Opportunities  Parents and patients eager to seek and receive information  Nationally recognized organization  Strong celebrity connections Threats  Inaccurate or misleading cancer-related websites  Competition from other cancer-related charities  Emphasis on fundraising and research

Recommendations for St. Jude’s

Low Resource  Twitter targeting current patients and families 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

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  Visually Appealing Website  Lots of Information for Parents  Health Literacy Considerations  Ease of Navigation  Many Specific Descriptions of Available Family Services  Financial, Educational, Support Weaknesses  Lack of Specific YouTube and Twitter Accounts  Low Video Quality  No Descriptions of Illnesses  Limited Interactive Components  No Information Aimed at Patient

SWOT Analysis (cont’d)

Opportunities  Parents and Patients Eager to Seek and Receive Information  Newly Implemented Reid R. Saco AYA Clinic  Recently Received AYA Website Grant Threats  More Visible Treatment Centers  Great Deal of Incorrect of Misleading Cancer-Related Information

Recommendations for the Floating Hospital

Low Resource  Separate Facebook Account for Cancer Center  Create YouTube Account to House Existing Videos  Add Explanations of Diseases in Index Resource Intensive  Separate Section Speaking Directly to Children   Outlining Services, What to Expect Interactive Component  Separate Survivorship and Long Term Care Section

Comparison of Organizations

Health Literacy Education of Parents

Dana Farber/Boston Children’s

Clear written descriptions of services, but complex video explanations of illnesses Website targeted at parents -Description of illnesses and services

St. Jude’s

Medical jargon used -Circular glossary Website targeted at parents -Descriptions of illnesses -Emphasis on financial

Floating Hospital

Description of services and treatment process easy to understand and process Parts of website targeted at parents -Description of services -Emphasis on financial -YouTube Video

Comparison of Organizations (cont’d)

Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) Education of Children Interactive Components Ease of Navigation

Dana Farber/Boston Children’s

No distinct account “Your Child” Explanations Social Media and Thriving blog Low

St. Jude’s

Emphasis on fundraising over education Survivorship guide aimed at adults Limited to Social Media Strong

Floating Hospital

No distinct account “Your Child” Explanations Limited to Social Media Strong

Thank You!

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