scispace - formally typeset
Journal ArticleDOI

Cancer Communication on Social Media: Examining How Cancer Caregivers Use Facebook for Cancer-Related Communication.

Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
Findings show that personal Facebook pages offer a platform for cancer caregivers to share their cancer-related experiences, promote advocacy and awareness, and mobilize social support.
Abstract
Background Americans are increasingly using social media (such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter) for health-related communication. Much of the previous research on social media and health communication has focused on Facebook groups related to a specific disease or Facebook pages related to an advocacy organization. Less is known about how people communicate about cancer on personal Facebook pages. Objective In this study, we expand upon previous research by examining how cancer caregivers use personal Facebook pages for cancer-related communication. Methods We examined themes in cancer-related exchanges through a content analysis of 12 months of data from 18 publically available Facebook pages hosted by parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (15 852 total posts). Results Six themes emerged: (1) documenting the cancer journey, (2) sharing emotional strain associated with caregiving, (3) promoting awareness and advocacy about pediatric cancer, (4) fundraising, (5) mobilizing support, and (6) expressing gratitude for support. Conclusions Building upon previous research documenting the increasing use of social media for health-related communication and support, our findings show that personal Facebook pages offer a platform for cancer caregivers to share their cancer-related experiences, promote advocacy and awareness, and mobilize social support. Implications for practice Providers must recognize the importance of social media as a vehicle for support and communication for families of children with cancer. Nurses should educate parents on how to appraise information obtained through Facebook using evidence-based guidelines. Providers can encourage caregivers to use Facebook as a tool for communication, information, and support.

read more

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

Is Cancer Information Exchanged on Social Media Scientifically Accurate

TL;DR: The findings highlight the potential utility of social media as a cancer-related resource, but also indicate that providers should focus on recommending reliable, evidence-based sources to patients and caregivers.
Journal ArticleDOI

Perceived Patient-Provider Communication Quality and Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Watching Health-Related Videos on YouTube: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

TL;DR: Higher perceived quality of patient-provider communication is associated with lower odds of watching health-related videos on YouTube, compared with those who said providers “always” spent enough time with them.
Journal ArticleDOI

Social Media and Mobile Technology for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

TL;DR: With clear advantages for reach, social media and mHealth technologies offer the ability to scale and engage entire populations at low cost, develop supportive social networks, connect patients and providers, encourage adherence with cancer care, and collect vast quantities of data for advancing cancer research.
Journal ArticleDOI

The role of internet-based digital tools in reducing social isolation and addressing support needs among informal caregivers: a scoping review.

TL;DR: It is suggested that internet-based digital tools can be a cost-effective and convenient way to develop programs that help unpaid caregivers form communities, gain support, and access resources.
Journal ArticleDOI

Analysis of the Use and Impact of Twitter During American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meetings From 2011 to 2016: Focus on Advanced Metrics and User Trends.

TL;DR: The use of Twitter among health care stakeholders during the ASCO meeting has markedly increased over time, demonstrating the increasing role of social media in the dissemination of findings at the most highly attended hematology and oncology conference of the year.
References
More filters
Book

Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research

TL;DR: The Discovery of Grounded Theory as mentioned in this paper is a book about the discovery of grounded theories from data, both substantive and formal, which is a major task confronting sociologists and is understandable to both experts and laymen.
Book

Constructing grounded theory : a practical guide through qualitative analysis

Kathy Charmaz
TL;DR: K Kathy Charmaz's excellent and practical guide to grounded theory in nursing and how to do qualitative research in nursing is welcomed.
Journal ArticleDOI

Cancer statistics, 2014

TL;DR: The magnitude of the decline in cancer death rates from 1991 to 2010 varies substantially by age, race, and sex, ranging from no decline among white women aged 80 years and older to a 55% decline among black men aged 40 years to 49 years.
Journal ArticleDOI

A New Dimension of Health Care: Systematic Review of the Uses, Benefits, and Limitations of Social Media for Health Communication

TL;DR: Social media brings a new dimension to health care as it offers a medium to be used by the public, patients, and health professionals to communicate about health issues with the possibility of potentially improving health outcomes.

Social Media Update 2016

TL;DR: Pew Research Center has documented the wide variety of ways in which Americans use social media to seek out information and interact with others, and half of the public has turned to these sites to learn about the 2016 presidential election.
Related Papers (5)