Communication Matters: Technology for Information Exchange Needs in the Context of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Effective communication is vital in healthcare, especially in complex areas like prostate cancer diagnosis. Although there has been much research on communication among different stakeholders in healthcare, there is still a visible gap in addressing the different information exchange needs of doctors and patients, and how these can impact their communication during prostate cancer diagnosis. This paper explores these challenges from both patients' and doctors' - more specifically, radiologists' - perspectives. Through contextual inquiries and interviews with experienced radiologists, who play a key role in diagnosis, and patients with prostate cancer, we have gained valuable insights into current communication practices associated with the context and explored the potential of technology to support them. Our findings highlight the challenges faced by both stakeholders during diagnosis and their needs and preferences for improved communication. Based on those findings, we propose design implications for computer technologies to enhance communication among stakeholders, ultimately improving collaboration, efficiency, and patient outcomes in prostate cancer care.