Study Purpose: The study aims to assess how effective e-health interventions are at improving mental health help-seeking intentions and behaviours among breast cancer patients.
Intervention: E-health interventions will be utilized to encourage patients to seek mental health support. These interventions are designed to be accessible and convenient, offering support and information through digital platforms.
Participants: The study will involve breast cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 65.
Key Objectives:
Primary Goal: To measure any changes in patients' intentions and actions to seek mental health support before and after using e-health interventions.
Secondary Goals: To explore how these interventions impact mental health literacy, reduce self-stigma, and identify barriers and facilitators to seeking help.
Comparison: The study will compare outcomes for patients using e-health tools against those receiving traditional care without digital interventions.
Expected Outcomes: Researchers anticipate that e-health interventions will improve mental health help-seeking behaviours, enhance understanding of mental health issues, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking support.
Significance: This study could demonstrate the potential of digital health tools to support mental well-being among breast cancer patients, providing new ways to access care and overcome traditional barriers to seeking mental health support.
Breast cancer patients from all stages of the disease who are currently undergoing treatment at Institut Kanser Negara (IKN)
Age 18 years and above
Patients willing to participate
Patients understand either Malay or English language
Patients with breast cancer and metastasis to the brain
Patients who are diagnosed with mental illness
Patients with performance status 3 and above (based on The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Scale of Performance Status)
Parallel
E-health video
Other interventionLength: The video is approximately 10-15 minutes long, making it concise and easy to watch in one sitting. Visuals: Includes engaging visuals, such as animations, graphics, and real-life footage, to illustrate key concepts and keep viewers engaged. Tone: The tone is supportive, empathetic, and empowering, aiming to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere.
Mental Help-Seeking Intention
Help-Seeking Intention: The likelihood or willingness of breast cancer patients to seek professional mental health services. The mental help-seeking intention will be assessed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) questionnaires. The help-seeking intention will be measured on a 3-item scale. Responses will be rated on a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of help-seeking intention.
Mental Help-Seeking Behaviour
The actual actions participants took to seek mental health services, such as contacting a mental health professional or accessing online resources. Mental help-seeking behaviour will be assessed by their behaviour of seeking or not seeking help, the answer will be yes or no
Mental Health Literacy
Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid in their recognition, management, and prevention. Evaluation: Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS)
Attitude of Seeking Help, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC)
Attitude towards help-seeking, subjective norms, as well as PBC, will be assessed using the TPB questionnaires Perceived behavioural control - PBC will be measured on a 3-item scale. Responses will be rated on a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of behavioural control Subjective norms - The subjective norm will be measured on a 3-item scale. Responses will be rated on a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of subjective norm. Attitude towards help-seeking - This aspect will be assessed using 5 items, which will then be evaluated on a 6-point semantic differential scale, where higher scores denote a more favourable attitude towards help-seeking.
Self-stigma of seeking help
Self-stigma refers to the internalized negative perceptions and shame associated with seeking mental health support. Self-stigma in seeking help will be assessed using the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) questionnaire
Anxiety and Depression
The level of anxiety and depression will be measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). HADS is a self-reported questionnaire designed to screen anxiety and depressive in a hospital setting
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