Perceived benefits of online support groups for women with metastatic breast cancer.
Women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), a life-threatening illness, stand to benefit a great deal from online support groups, but none have been studied specifically within this population. The present mixed-method study was carried out to determine which therapeutic factors occurred in online MBC support groups, and to see how such factors might have acted to benefit participants. Participants were 20 women with MBC who participated in online peer support groups. Most reported benefiting in some way from their groups. Six therapeutic factors theorized to be helpful in online support groups and cancer support groups were present in the groups studied: group cohesiveness, information exchange, universality, instillation of hope, catharsis, and altruism. However, although participants reported being able to discuss many other concerns freely, they had difficulty discussing death and dying, which are critical issues for this category of women with BC.
Psychology Department, Felician College, Lodi, New Jersey 07644, USA. vilhauerr@felician.edu
Ruvanee P
RP
Vilhauer
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires