Computerized ambulatory monitoring overcomes a number of methodological and conceptual challenges to studying mental disorders, however concerns persist regarding the feasibility of this approach with severe psychiatric samples and the potential of intensive monitoring to influence data quality. This multi-site investigation evaluates these issues in four independent samples. Patients with schizophrenia (n = 56), substance dependence (n = 85), anxiety disorders (n = 45), and a non-clinical sample (n = 280) were contacted to participate in investigations using computerized ambulatory monitoring. Micro-computers were used to administer electronic interviews several times per day for a one-week period. Ninety-five percent of contacted individuals agreed to participate in the study, and minimum compliance was achieved by 96% of these participants. Seventy-eight percent of all programmed assessments were completed overall, and only 1% of micro-computers were not returned to investigators. There was no evidence that missing data or response time increased over the duration of the study, suggesting that fatigue effects were negligible. The majority of variables investigated did not change in frequency as a function of study duration, however some evidence was found that socially sensitive behaviors changed in a manner consistent with reactivity.

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The development of supportive care for cancer patients has been shown to have a positive impact on both mortality rates and many aspects of life after cancer, particularly in young women. Meanwhile, there are still numerous inequalities in terms of cancer mortalities and quality of life among cancer survivors in France. The processes leading to unequal access to supportive care services, and the impact this has on the post-treatment period, have been poorly documented, however. The goal of this study was to understand the barriers to using supportive care services among young women breast cancer survivors under the age of 50 and to find out how this can contribute to inequalities. Thirty-six young breast cancer survivors, one third of which deemed socially deprived, were interviewed using a qualitative, inductive approach at two comprehensive care centres in France. Our findings primarily show that there are still a number of barriers to accessing supportive care for a large number of patients. The way information about supportive services is delivered is a major cause of inequalities in the use of these services. The guidance provided does not take into account either the patients' needs or their capacity to integrate the information and anticipate problems. Certain specific post-treatment issues have yet to be addressed. Some systemic barriers could be lifted by changing the way information on supportive care services is currently organised and thereby prevent the survivorship plans now being implemented in cancer care settings from reinforcing health inequalities.