Support group webcasting: a feasibility assessment.
Stress from chronic illness can be ameliorated by participation in support groups (SGs). Attending "gold standard" in-person, moderated SGs can be challenging. Taking care to address confidentiality concerns, we developed a web-based method for remote participants to "attend" in-person SGs. Authorized participants gain a realtime, audiovisual connection to the SG; on-site attendees discuss textual comments sent by remote participants to, and selected for discussion by, the group moderator. Feasibility studies with three SGs are encouraging.
Afrin
Lawrence B
LB
Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Greenland
W James
WJ
Finch
Nancy J
NJ
D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D012657:Self-Help Groups