A237 DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A WEB-BASED EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR THE HEPATOPULMONARY SYNDROME

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare shunting lung disease that is caused by liver disease. This complex disease entails high informational needs for patients and their caregivers. We sought to analyze existing web resources for HPS patients, to assess patients’ and caregivers’ informational needs, and to develop and evaluate a tailored web-based educational resource for this population. We performed a GoogleTM search for existing web-based resources for HPS. We then administered an electronic needs assessment survey to patients with HPS [liver disease, intrapulmonary vascular dilatation (IPVD) and hypoxemia)/pre-HPS (liver disease, IPVD and normal oxygenation) in the Toronto HPS Clinic Database, and their caregivers. In response to these needs, we developed an HPS website, applying best practices in health website design. We administered electronic questionnaires to assess changes in self-efficacy (Likert-scale questions) and knowledge (standardized knowledge test) after website use, website quality (DISCERN score) and usability [System Usability Score (SUS)]. We identified 21 unique HPS websites, with a mean DISCERN score of 19.9 ± 5.2 (out of 45) and Flesch-Kincaid reading grade of 16.8 ± 4.2. We recruited 35 (15 HPS, 5 pre-HPS, 15 caregivers) of 59 (59.3%) eligible participants for the needs assessment. Of these, 27 (77.1%) had searched online for HPS information; 5/27 (18.5%) had found the information they sought and 8/27 (29.6%) had found the information easy to understand. Participant-reported self-efficacy (see Figure) improved after interaction with the website, as did knowledge scores [64.9% ± 16.8 to 72.7% ± 18.5 (n=30; p=0.015)]. A higher SUS score (p=0.048) and lower level of comfort browsing the Internet (p=0.020) predicted improvement in knowledge score in both univariate and multivariable models. The mean DISCERN score for our website was 38.5 ± 4.3 (out of 45); SUS score was 76.6 ± 16.2 (out of 100); and reading grade was 8.3. HPS patients often seek information on the internet, yet existing web resources were few, scored poorly on a validated test of health information quality, and had a reading level far above the 8th grade recommended threshold. A website designed through evidence-based criteria for health educational website design was able to improve self-efficacy and knowledge among patients and caregivers with HPS. The importance of user-centered design is demonstrated by the fact that users with a lower comfort level browsing the Internet were even more likely to experience knowledge gains. All patients/caregivers affected by HPS should be made aware of the availability of this beneficial resource. Figure. Participant Self-Efficacy Pre- and Post-Website Interaction. Responses were entered on a 5-point Likert scale labeled 1 (disagree); 3 (neutral); and 5 (agree). For the purposes of this figure, scores of 1 and 2 were considered “disagree,” and 4 and 5 were considered “agree.” Each bar demonstrates the proportion of participants with each response, for each statement. This includes 30 participants for the pre- and post- assessment (19 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome and 11 caregivers). None

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.