CHESS - AN INTERACTIVE COMPUTER-SYSTEM FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER PILOTED WITH AN UNDER-SERVED POPULATION

The Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) is an inte ractive computer system containing information, social support and pro blem solving tools. It was developed with intensive input from potenti al users through needs-assessment surveys and field testing. CHESS had previously been used by women in the middle and upper socio-economic classes with high school and college education. This article reports o n the results of a pilot study involving eight African-American women with breast cancer from impoverished neighborhoods in the city of Chic ago. CHESS was very well received, extensively used and produced feeli ngs of acceptance, motivation, understanding and relief.