Background: Digital technologies offer innovative ways to meet the information needs of people affected by cancer. In 2017 Cancer Council NSW launched a new information resource: The Thing About Cancer podcast. Episodes feature interviews with cancer experts and survivors, and cover topics such as coping with fatigue, managing fear, sex after cancer, and the impact on carers and families. An evaluation of the podcast was conducted in 2018.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the podcast in providing information and support to people as they navigate the experience of cancer.
Method: A self-report online survey was available on the Cancer Council NSW website for 15 weeks. SoundCloud analytics measured overall listens.
Results: During the study period, the podcast had 5482 listens, with 81% accessed through third-party apps on smartphones and other devices, and the remaining 19% via the podcast webpages. A total of 29 surveys were completed, with 31% from people diagnosed with cancer, 24% from carers and a further 24% from family or friends. The evaluation found that the podcasts:
Conclusion: The Thing About Cancer podcast helps to fulfil unmet information needs by increasing knowledge about cancer, the management of side effects and lifestyle changes and where to find further support and information. Because listeners can hear the voices of experts and survivors, podcasts are also an effective way to normalise the experience of cancer and reduce feelings of isolation. The high proportion of carers, family and friends among the participants indicates that podcasts appeal to hard-to-reach groups and thus have particular potential in connecting with people who have entered the survivorship phase.