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NoShrinkingViol's avatar
NoShrinkingViol
Member
5 years ago

Is the 'My Journey' app (and the restricted availability of printed resources) a success or failure?

A few years ago BCNA promoted the fact that the 'My Journey' kit reached about 12,000 out of approx. 14,000+ newly diagnosed BC people.  Then BCNA moved away from printed resources to an app, also called 'My Journey'.

I read somewhere in the past 6-9 months that in its first year, the app was downloaded about 6,000-7,000 times.  Cancer Australia (https://breast-cancer.canceraustralia.gov.au/statistics) suggests that BC diagnoses in 2020 will exceed 19,800, indicating BCNA's 'My Journey' app may reach far fewer than 50% of newly-diagnosed people.

What is the current reach of the 'My Journey' app for newly diagnosed people and the associated time-frame?  How many newly-diagnosed people are, instead, requesting printed resources?

A forum member recently noted the absence of annual or financial reports on the BCNA website, in view of BCNA's abundant fundraising activities.  Greater transparency with the public in relation to your operations would be welcome.
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  • SoldierCrab's avatar
    SoldierCrab
    Member
    5 years ago
    I have posted the link to this in the TNBC facebook group so that newbies whom have used this resource since it went digital  have an opportunity to come forward and reply. 

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    5 years ago
    I facilitate a bc support group and we all find the online My Journey tool too difficult to use.I’ve rung BCNA several times to have a printed copy sent to me for a reference book for my group but nothing happens.Many older ladies,non English speaking ladies and financially disadvantaged ladies cannot access this online tool.A printed booklet is much easier to earmark pages that you want to return to and handy to have with you at medical venues where you have to turn your phone off.So yes,not a fan!
  • NoShrinkingViol's avatar
    NoShrinkingViol
    Member
    5 years ago
    @Afraser I agree about the 'J' word - it's an overused cliche and should be banned!  I understand your POV on the content whereas I raised an issue regarding distribution.

    BCNA switched to digital distribution a couple of years ago.  Digital would be lower cost and offers the flexibility of tailored information and updates but may not be as user-friendly as printed materials. 

    'My Journey', in printed or digital format, is available only upon request.  It appears there is a much lower take-up rate of the digital version than the printed resources of the past.
     
    As BC affects predominantly older women, this may reflect a generational preference for printed vs digital resources, a preference to have a hard copy on hand for easy reference, and/or the effects of vision changes as one ages which may present a challenge when viewing intensive materials on a screen. 

    Additionally, access to a computer, a smartphone or the internet is not universal whereas most people have a postal address.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    Another angle on this subject - I have great respect for the work BCNA does and its support resources but the My Journey kit, which I received by mail, didn’t do it for me. It’s an expression I don’t like much (‘journey’), I found the focus too much on treatment and I benefited a great deal by keeping my own journal on my computer, focussing on the things that mattered most to me. I doubt if I was the only one who didn’t use it. Many if not all of those who download the app however may have already scanned the contents online and consider it useful. In the end, it’s the use of the resource not just the distribution that is most helpful. Just a thought.