Patients’ Attitudes Toward Internet Cancer Support Groups

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chee W ; Guevara E ; Im E-O ; Kim KS ; Lim H-J ; Liu Y
• Description:
  Purpose/Objectives: To explore patients' attitudes toward Internet cancer support groups (ICSGs) through an online forum. Research Approach: Qualitative study using a feminist perspective. Setting: Internet and real settings. Participants: 16 patients with cancer. Methodologic Approach: An online forum was held for one month with six discussion topics. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Main Research Variables: Attitudes toward ICSGs. Findings: Through the data-analysis process, four themes were found related to patients' attitudes toward ICSGs. First, the participants universalized patients' needs for and attitudes toward ICSGs. Second, most of the participants wanted to use ICSGs for emotional support, information, and interactions. Third, many of the participants used ICSGs because they could reach out to other patients with cancer without traveling and without interrupting their busy schedules. Finally, many participants were concerned about the security of interactions on ICSGs, so they wanted ICSGs that could ensure privacy and safeguard the anonymity and confidentiality of what they shared online. Conclusions: Patients view ICSGs positively. Additional studies should examine gender-specific and multilanguage ICSGs by recruiting more ethnic minority patients. Interpretation: Despite concerns about the security of Internet interactions, ICSGs would be an excellent source of social support that is acceptable to patients with cancer. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Computers Health Promotion Minority Health Neoplasms Occupational Health Race Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Cancer Health Communications Information Systems Minority Health Qualitative Analysis Racial Factors Sociological Factors
• ISSN:
  0190-535X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054103
• Citation:
  Oncol Nurs Forum 2007 May; 34(3):705-712
• Email:
  eim@mail.utexas.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Oncology Nursing Forum
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5699f561a7304100e74ac2e81fca261f1587486050ffd6b23e0c7396f19890c0ffe4ee07b980c314de6aa1b799ccd863a3ab1d4d8a773ebddf8601aed9099024
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216737/cdc_216737_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 142.56 KB ]