Interactive multimedia information program for use by breast-care nurses—a patient acceptability study

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.