Table 2 Study Purpose, Subjects, Intervention Implementation, and Significant Results for the 3 Articles with intervention programs

Lee and Hawkins, 2016 [19]

To understand how and why worry motivates health-related information seeking, and whether worry decreases after obtaining health-related information.

224 women recently diagnosed with

breast cancer

- Strategy:Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) internet access, (b) Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) access, and (c) control group with books or audio tapes.

- Access and Support:Patients in groups (a) and (b) received computers and internet access at home for 5 months.

- Study Design:Baseline survey conducted before intervention, followed by a post-intervention survey and two months of web usage tracking.

Worry increased patients’ motivation to seek additional information, leading to more amount of time spent searching for such information during the first 2 months. This behavior resulted in a significant increase in patients’ perceived breast cancer knowledge and a reduction in worry, demonstrating that internet-based support can effectively enhance knowledge and reduce worry.

Bruce et al., 2018 [38]

To test an approach for delivering high-quality web-based information to breast cancer patients before surgical consultations.

244 breast cancer patients considering surgery

- Strategy:Patients were offered web-based information through phone contact, either at diagnosis or when their surgical appointment was scheduled.

- Access and Support:High-quality information links (from nonprofit organizations websites/ commercial cooperative agreement) were emailed to patients before their first surgical consultation.

- Study Design:Baseline questionnaire completed before consultation. Surgeons completed a survey post-enrollment to assess the impact on patient interactions.

High-quality web-based information prior to surgical consultation improved patients’ engagement, with 85% reporting that the information helped them prepare for their surgery. Surgeons also noted increased consultation efficiency, as patients were more informed and prepared, showing that pre-consultation online resources can enhance decision-making.

Ciria-Suarez et al., 2022 [39]

To describe and assess ICOnnecta’t usage in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients within the first two years of implementation.

234 women recently diagnosed with breast

cancer

- Strategy:Patients accessed the ICOnnecta’t app, a digital ecosystem designed to support cancer patients through various content formats.

- Access and Support:Patients received multimedia resources (videos, texts, infographics) covering medical, emotional, and lifestyle topics.

- Study Design:Usage data tracked across content types (e.g., video, text) for two years post-diagnosis. Analysis focused on patterns of spontaneous vs. guided use and engagement with different content areas.

Patients engaged most with medical and emotional support content, especially in video format, suggesting that multimedia resources are effective in addressing both informational and emotional needs. The study highlights the importance of diverse content formats in digital health interventions to improve patient satisfaction and OHIS engagement.