Web-based experiential learning intervention Friend Supporter to reduce cancer stigma: Feasibility, usability, and acceptability trial

Abstract

We developed a Web-based experiential learning intervention named Friend Supporter to reduce the general public’s cancer-related stigma. This study investigated the participants’ perceptions and experiences of Friend Supporter using the think-aloud method. From June to August 2021, we used snowball sampling and recruited participants aged ≥20 years who had never been diagnosed with cancer. We conducted the 5-week intervention with the participants in a natural setting. We also administered a questionnaire survey to 13 participants after each module, conducted review interviews with 8 participants after completing the intervention, and respectively extracted 7 and 12 categories using content analysis. The results indicated that participants highly evaluated the intervention’s content, although specific participants were dissatisfied with the intervention. A few participants reported the need to consider older people and their difficulties in managing worksheets that lacked concrete examples. Optimizing the intervention requires refining the system, offering detailed instructions or supplementary materials, and presenting the option to view actual cases. We suggest that these measures can enhance the intervention’s usability and feasibility.