title: Internet use and social support in women with breast cancer.
abstract: Many Web sites offer information to breast cancer patients, who are increasingly using these sites. The authors investigated the potential psychological benefits of Internet use for medical information by breast cancer patients. Of the 251 women approached, 188 were successfully interviewed (74.9%). Forty-two percent used the Internet for medical information related to breast health issues and did so for an average of 0.80 hr per week. The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, with results controlled for covariates, showed that Internet use for breast health issues was associated with greater social support and less loneliness than Internet use for other purposes or nonuse. Breast cancer patients may obtain these psychological benefits with only a minimal weekly time commitment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. joshua18@att.net
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.forename: Beth Ann
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ditkoff
authors.forename: Alfred I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Neugut
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000523:psychology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008132:Loneliness; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support