title: Online support of patients and survivors of cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide information on current use of a type of online support, Internet cancer support groups, by patients and survivors of cancer, and the factors that influence their usages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature systematically searched and retrieved through the PUBMED, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This literature review indicated five factors that influence the use of Internet cancer support groups (disease, background, cultural, need, and Internet use).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care providers need to give careful attention to multiple factors that may influence the use of online support.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, USA. eunim@nursing.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Eun-Ok
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors