The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform

Abstract Background Breast cancer is a multifaceted condition affecting women globally, with patients often facing emotional, psychological, and social challenges. This study explored breast cancer patients’ preferences for features of a digital social care platform. Methods A cross-sectional study...

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Main Authors: Sima Rafiei, Peigham Heidarpoor, Saber Souri, Zahra Nejatifar, Mohammad Amerzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03792-2
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author Sima Rafiei
Peigham Heidarpoor
Saber Souri
Zahra Nejatifar
Mohammad Amerzadeh
author_facet Sima Rafiei
Peigham Heidarpoor
Saber Souri
Zahra Nejatifar
Mohammad Amerzadeh
author_sort Sima Rafiei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Breast cancer is a multifaceted condition affecting women globally, with patients often facing emotional, psychological, and social challenges. This study explored breast cancer patients’ preferences for features of a digital social care platform. Methods A cross-sectional study using Conjoint Analysis (CA), grounded in economic utility theory, was conducted. A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) questionnaire was administered to 158 breast cancer patients at a university hospital in Iran between November 2023 and January 2024. Data were analysed using ordered logistic regression in Stata 13. Results All platform attributes significantly influenced preferences (P ≤ 0.05). Emotional support had the highest impact (β = 1.132), followed by informational (β = 0.973) and esteem support (β = 0.864). Instructional videos increased the likelihood of choosing a digital platform 2.45 times compared to text-based messages (P < 0.001). Personalized online support was 1.42 times more preferred than generic supportive messages (P < 0.001). Mindfulness affirmations were 1.14 times more preferred than inspirational messages (P < 0.001). Conclusion Digital tools that prioritize emotional, informational, and esteem support—especially through personalized online support and instructional videos can improve patient engagement and acceptability. These findings support the patient-centred design of digital social care platforms to enhance quality of life for breast cancer patients.
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spelling doaj-art-2f32bdc0d4794347afe7cef3cd47eace2025-08-20T02:29:46ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-05-0125111010.1186/s12905-025-03792-2The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platformSima Rafiei0Peigham Heidarpoor1Saber Souri2Zahra Nejatifar3Mohammad Amerzadeh4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non- Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Based Education of Health Sciences, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non- Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Breast cancer is a multifaceted condition affecting women globally, with patients often facing emotional, psychological, and social challenges. This study explored breast cancer patients’ preferences for features of a digital social care platform. Methods A cross-sectional study using Conjoint Analysis (CA), grounded in economic utility theory, was conducted. A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) questionnaire was administered to 158 breast cancer patients at a university hospital in Iran between November 2023 and January 2024. Data were analysed using ordered logistic regression in Stata 13. Results All platform attributes significantly influenced preferences (P ≤ 0.05). Emotional support had the highest impact (β = 1.132), followed by informational (β = 0.973) and esteem support (β = 0.864). Instructional videos increased the likelihood of choosing a digital platform 2.45 times compared to text-based messages (P < 0.001). Personalized online support was 1.42 times more preferred than generic supportive messages (P < 0.001). Mindfulness affirmations were 1.14 times more preferred than inspirational messages (P < 0.001). Conclusion Digital tools that prioritize emotional, informational, and esteem support—especially through personalized online support and instructional videos can improve patient engagement and acceptability. These findings support the patient-centred design of digital social care platforms to enhance quality of life for breast cancer patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03792-2Digital healthBreast cancerSocial carePatient preferencesDiscrete choice experimentConjoint analysis
spellingShingle Sima Rafiei
Peigham Heidarpoor
Saber Souri
Zahra Nejatifar
Mohammad Amerzadeh
The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
BMC Women's Health
Digital health
Breast cancer
Social care
Patient preferences
Discrete choice experiment
Conjoint analysis
title The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
title_full The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
title_fullStr The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
title_full_unstemmed The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
title_short The preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
title_sort preferences of breast cancer patients regarding a digital social care platform
topic Digital health
Breast cancer
Social care
Patient preferences
Discrete choice experiment
Conjoint analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03792-2
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