Online information about early detection of colorectal cancer to support informed decision-making. Evaluation and reception analysis of an information module at the women's health portal and the men's health portal of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA)

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in Germany. The provided governmental program for early detection of colorectal cancer intends to increase the chances of recovery by identifying colorectal cancer at an early, more treatable stage.An information module with quality-assured, balanced, and target-group specific information about colorectal cancer and early detection was designed for the women's health portal and the men's health portal of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) to promote informed decision-making. Amultilevel and multimethodological procedure was chosen to examine if the information module achieved this intended goal and to evaluate how users and experts experienced the information module. User experience was evaluated using an eye-tracking, retrospective think aloud (RTA) technique combined with aquantitative questionnaire, and experts' evaluations using ahalf-standardized questionnaire. Additionally, factors like age, education level, sex, previous experience, and health literacy were analyzed. Altogether, users and experts rated the information module very positive, comprehensible, and informative. Reception of the information module increased the knowledge about colorectal cancer and early detection of colorectal cancer significantly. Therefore, the designed information module provides the crucial basis for an informed decision-making process.