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Use of Internet Cancer Support Groups as Research Settings
Methods. ICSGs were searched in a systematic way through Google, Yahoo, Bing, MSN, AOL, ACOR, Facebook.com, and Ask.com using keywords of cancer, support, and breast cancer. All the retrieved ICSGs were visited to verify if they are actually ICSGs for breast cancer patients. Then, each ICSG was analyzed according to the evaluation criteria for ICSGs that were suggested by Im et al.
Results.Four themes emerged from the analysis process. First, 50% of the ICSGs were dormant (no interaction during the past 6 months). Second, 70% of the ICSGs were closed to only their members. Third, in 30% of the ICSGs, the contact information of the moderators/leaders was not clearly posted; rather, a potential participant should submit a request through the Internet, and need to wait until the moderators/leaders respond. Finally, 40% were just for information (no actual Internet interactions among members).
Conclusions. Researchers need to combine ICSGs with real community/clinical settings if they want to use ICSGs as research settings.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsConduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the benefits and disadvantages in using Internet cancer support groups as research settings.
Describe the current status of Internet cancer support groups and formulate directions for future research.
Keyword(s): Cancer, Internet
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the one who has worked on the analysis of the Internet cancer support groups.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.