title: The effect of a Frequently Asked Questions module on a pancreatic cancer Web site patient/family chat room.
abstract: The Internet provides access to health information and a supportive community with similar illness concerns. Securing accurate information about treatment and prognosis is important to those with pancreatic cancer given its high mortality and short survival. The purpose of this descriptive-comparative study was to determine the effect of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) module on postings in the chat room of a pancreatic cancer Web site. Six hundred postings were analyzed. Three themes were isolated: information seeking, giving, or both; support seeking, giving, or both; and reporting status or death. Information included treatments, nutrition, prognosis, end-of-life care, cost of care, symptoms, and support (social, emotional, spiritual, or physical). A greater proportion of postings sought information after the FAQ module was added, although questions about medical treatment decreased, whereas questions about prognosis and end-of-life care nearly doubled. There was no difference in the proportion of postings addressing support. Medical treatment was the most common treatment reported and pain was the most common symptom reported. This study supported the addition of a FAQ module to a pancreatic cancer Web site and revealed the need for information regarding pain management and care giving at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Hospital, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. jcoleman@jhmi.com
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Pat K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sauter
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hodgin
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stanfield
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emerling
authors.forename: Ralph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hruban
authors.forename: Marie T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D015142:Baltimore; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011379:Prognosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care