Aims: To design an interactive multimedia program for use by breast-care nurses and evaluate the acceptability of this technology to patients in the clinical setting.
Methods: In order to ensure that the clarity of the information was maintained the multimedia program was developed by a multidisciplinary team, including non-medical personnel and patients. A prospective analysis of the subjective impressions of patients with symptomatic breast disorders and breast-care nurses to a multimedia patient information system was then performed using a standard questionnaire and semi-structured interviews.
Results: Fifty women were recruited for the study. Thirty-six (72%) considered the multimedia counselling to be superior to the traditional modalities. Forty-nine (98%) graded the system as good or better. No patient regarded the technology as anxiety-provoking or inferior to the traditional leaflet-based approach. Women over 55 years old found the system as acceptable and easy to use as the younger women.
Conclusions: The multimedia breast counselling programme was acceptable to patients and was considered superior to the traditional leaflet-based approach by the majority. The inherent advantages of this technology will lead to its increasing utilization in the clinical setting.