Co-designing a lifestyle-focused text message intervention for women after breast cancer treatment: mixed methods study

Anna Singleton*, Rebecca Raeside, Stephanie R. Partridge, Molly Hayes, Katherine Maka, Karice K. Hyun, Aravinda Thiagalingam, Clara K. Chow, Kerry Sherman, Elisabeth Elder, Julie Redfern

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    21 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. Recovery from breast cancer treatment can be mentally and physically challenging. SMS text message programs offer a novel way to provide health information and support, but few programs are co-designed with consumer representatives.

    Objective: This study aims to report the procedures and outcomes of a co-design process of a lifestyle-focused SMS text message program to support women's mental and physical health after breast cancer treatment.

    Methods: We followed an iterative mixed methods two-step process: (1) co-design workshop with consumers and health professionals and researchers to draft text messages and (2) evaluation of message content, which was scored (5-point Likert scale; 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree) for ease of understanding, usefulness, and appropriateness, and readability (Flesch-Kincaid score). Additional free-text responses and semistructured interviews were coded into themes. Messages were edited or deleted based on the evaluations, with consumers' evaluations prioritized.

    Results: In step 1, co-designed text messages (N=189) were semipersonalized, and the main content themes were (1) physical activity and healthy eating, (2) medications and side effects, (3) mental health, and (4) general breast cancer information. In step 2, consumers (n=14) and health professionals and researchers (n=14) provided 870 reviews of 189 messages and found that most messages were easy to understand (799/870, 91.8%), useful (746/870, 85.7%), and appropriate (732/870, 84.1%). However, consumers rated 50 messages differently from health professionals and researchers. On the basis of evaluations, 37.6% (71/189) of messages were deleted, 36.5% (69/189) were edited, and 12 new messages related to fatigue, self-care, and cognition were created. The final 130 text messages had a mean 7.12 (SD 2.8) Flesch-Kincaid grade level and 68.9 (SD 15.5) ease-of-reading score, which represents standard reading ease.

    Conclusions: Co-designing and evaluating a bank of evidence-based mental and physical health-themed text messages with breast cancer survivors, health professionals, and researchers was feasible and resulted in a bank of 130 text messages evaluated highly by participants. Some consumer evaluations differed from health professionals and researchers, supporting the importance of co-design.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere27076
    Pages (from-to)e27076
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research
    Volume23
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 14 Jun 2021

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright the Author(s) 2021. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Keywords

    • breast neoplasms
    • cancer survivors
    • text messaging
    • telemedicine
    • mobile health
    • co-design

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