Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Beyond Written Information: Supporting Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy Through Co-Designed Cancer Information (146519)

Elisabeth Coyne 1 2 , Natalie Winter 3 , Joan Carlini 4 , Georgia Halkett 5 , Kirk Peacock 6 , Marcin Dzienis 7 , Danielle Moore 7 , Julia Robertson 6 , Karin Dieperink 1 2
  1. Griffith University, Meadowbrook, QLD, Australia
  2. Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  3. Nursing, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Business, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  5. Health, Curtin, Perth, WA, Australia
  6. Consumer, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  7. Cancer Services, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Aim
A cancer diagnosis is more than a disease; it is a symbolic, emotional, and social experience that influences how information is understood and used [1]. To optimise health outcomes for patients and families, individuals must be able to access, understand, and act on the information they receive. This study measured supportive care needs, self-efficacy, and health literacy levels, and explored the impact of visualised information among people affected by head and neck and gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods
A randomised controlled trial was conducted in a cancer outpatient treatment centre in Australia. Participants completed baseline surveys in person and follow-up surveys online at three months. Cancer information videos were developed using a co-design approach. Descriptive, correlational, and longitudinal analyses were undertaken.

Results
A total of 145 participants were recruited and completed baseline surveys, including 122 patients and 23 family members (mean age = 63 years). Patients reported the greatest unmet supportive care needs in the physical and psychological domains. A strong negative association was identified between self-efficacy and supportive care needs, indicating that higher confidence in managing care was associated with fewer unmet needs. Patients reported the lowest confidence in managing pain. Adequate health literacy levels were reported by 57% of participants, consistent with national estimates.

Conclusions
These findings highlight the supportive care challenges experienced by patients and families during cancer treatment. Greater self-efficacy was associated with lower supportive care needs, suggesting that interventions designed to increase confidence in self-management may improve outcomes. The relationship between health literacy and self-efficacy underscores the importance of delivering tailored information through multiple formats, including engaging visual resources that accommodate varying health literacy levels.

  1. Jefford, M., et al., Still Lost in Transition? A 20-Year Reflection on Cancer Survivorship Care. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2026. 0(0): p. JCO-26-00759.