HealthMark Multimedia Announces Receipt of SBIR Grant to increase pancreatic cancer patient educatio

October 15, 2004 -- HealthMark Multimedia, LLC, has been awarded a National Cancer Institute's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to produce a program for pancreatic cancer patients and their families to learn about and make decisions about treatment, clinical trials enrollment, palliative options and end-of-life care. A part of Healthmark Multimedia's Decision Notebook Series, the project is entitled, Pancreatic Cancer: Your Decision Notebook. Although the number of patients diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer is relatively small, it is one of the most lethal cancers in the United States. Four-fifths of patients will die within one year of diagnosis and only 5% of patients survive for five years.

There is a dearth of educational materials or decision-making assistance available for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pancreatic Cancer Progress Review Group in 2001 suggested that new tools be developed for both health care providers and patients to assist and support patient involvement in decision-making.

HealthMark's Notebook will provide clear, concise information and offer interactive tools to help users address decisions about treatment, clinical trials, symptom and complications management, psychosocial and communication support. In addition, it will address stress management, end-of-life planning and bereavement services. The interactive tools will be designed to help patients and their family members draw on their own values and preferences to reach decisions. Users will be able to upload interactive tools to their PDA. HealthMark will be testing the prototype with pancreatic cancer patients and their family members throughout the country in November .

HealthMark Multimedia, LLC, develops multimedia products that use a combination of graphics, audio, video and text to assist patients in making treatment and self-care decisions, health care professionals for continuing education and parents and children to learn about prevention and staying healthy. The company uses an extensive network of medical experts, patients and caregivers to review product information for accuracy, relevance and usefulness. Healthmark Multimedia also develops customized multimedia projects for companies and other organizations needing specialized health and human services communications.

For further information about the company or its products, contact HealthMark Multimedia: 1228 L Street NW, #250, Washington, DC 20036; Telephone: 202-265-0033; Fax: 202-448-6188. HealthMark Multimedia's home page can be found at www.HealthMarkMultimedia.com, Information about the Your Decision Notebook series can be found at www.yurdecisionnotebook.com.

HealthMark Multimedia Announces Receipt of SBIR Grant to increase pancreatic cancer patient educatio

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HealthMark Multimedia Announces Receipt of SBIR Grant to increase pancreatic cancer patient educatio

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