School of something FACULTY OF OTHER School of Healthcare FACULTY OF MEDICINE & HEALTH The Role of Digital Pathology in Talking to Patients about Cancer Rebecca Randell

Background Histopathology/surgical pathology Digital pathology Digital microscope project Sharing this technology with patients Our experiences Communication goals Relationship of technology to those goals Questions to explore Questions Introduction

Histopathology and digital pathology

Our research

Demonstrations to members of the public (1000+) Digital Pathology Patient Panel Interest and enthusiasm Cancer no longer invisible Knowledge is power – helping them to come to terms with diagnosis Potential to help understand decisions made in care But wheres the patient?

Improved perception of disease Increased sense of control Increased knowledge Better able to contribute to decisions about their care Requires research with patients to understand their expectations and experiences of receiving information about their diagnosis Whats the communication goal?

Leeds Virtual Microscope: walk up and use Digital pathology: accessibility of images Doesnt require diagnostic quality resolution How does technology address those goals?

What is the communication goal? (qualitative) Does it achieve it? (experimental) Who should discuss these images with the patient? At what point in the patient pathway? Questions to explore