Abstract
Inequities in health information access contribute to disparities in health outcomes. Health recommender systems have emerged as a promising solution to help users find the right information. Despite their various applications, it remains understudied how these systems can aid cancer patients. In this paper, we introduce HELPeR, a recommender system designed to assist ovarian cancer patients with their information needs. The design addresses cold-start challenges, drawing input from health experts and ovarian cancer forum posts. We evaluated HELPeR with nurse practitioners in a cold-start scenario, highlighting its benefits and areas for future improvement.