How underserved breast cancer patients use and benefit from eHealth programs: implications for closing the digital divide

This article consolidates insights from 15 years of research examining how the medically underserved use and benefit from an eHealth program, the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS). The authors outline results from early feasibility tests to determine if the underserved would use CHESS. Distinctive behaviors of underserved populations who have used CHESS are reported with a focus on how online health information and computer-mediated support groups are used. The article then reports on how the underserved benefit from using CHESS. Best practice recommendations for recruitment and training the underserved are offered, and implications for closing the digital divide are discussed. Keywords: eHealth; breast cancer; Internet; Interactive Cancer Communication System; CHESS