Application of a novel transdisciplinary communication technique to develop an Internet-based psychoeducational program: CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Aim: The aim of this work was is to create CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, an Internet-based, self-guided psychoeducational program to facilitate adjustment among women in the first months after breast cancer diagnosis. Background: Use of Internet technology addresses a gap in the delivery of psychoeducational clinical interventions immediately after breast cancer diagnosis; providing rapid access to information and guidance during a highly distressing and vital period of adjustment. Methods: A multi-step transdisciplinary communication process of Personae Creation, Layered Project Mapping, and Rapid Iterative Prototyping (RIP) was applied to facilitate communication between researcher, technology team and content reviewers during clinical program development. Results: Through three rounds of content review and two focus groups guided by this process, the reviewers, researcher and technology team communicated effectively; completing the project on-time and within budget. Conclusions: Application of a multi-step transdisciplinary communication process is feasible and essential to development of an Internet-based psychoeducational program.