title: Evaluation of CancerChatCanada: a program of online support for Canadians affected by cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Professional-led cancer support groups can improve quality of life and address unmet needs, but most Canadians affected by cancer do not have access to or do not make use of cancer support groups. A collaborative interdisciplinary team developed, operated, and evaluated Internet-based, professional-led, live-chat support groups (osgs) for cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors across Canada.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study aimed to report participant and participation characteristics in the pan-Canadian initiative known as CancerChatCanada, and to understand participant perspectives about the quality of communication and professional facilitation, overall satisfaction, and psychosocial benefits and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in osgs provided informed consent. Participant and participation characteristics were gathered from program data collection tools and are described using frequencies, means, and chi-squares. Patient, survivor, and caregiver perspectives were derived from 102 telephone interviews conducted after osg completion and subjected to a directed qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 55 professional-led osgs enrolled 351 participants from 9 provinces. More than half the participants came from rural or semirural areas, and more than 84% had no received previous cancer support. The attendance rate was 75%, the dropout rate was 26%, and 80% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied. The convenience and privacy of osgs were benefits. Meaningful communication about important and difficult topics, kinship and bonding with others, and improved mood and self-care were perceived outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that this collaborative initiative was successful in increasing reach and access, and that pan-Canadian, professional-led osgs provide psychosocial benefit to underserved and burdened cancer patients, survivors, and family caregivers.
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Provincial Psychosocial Oncology Program, Vancouver, BC.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Stephen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rojubally
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Macgregor
authors: D
authors: D
authors: McLeod
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Speca
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Taylor-Brown
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Fergus
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Collie
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Turner
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sellick
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mackenzie
keywords: Cancer; Internet; confidentiality; online support; professional-led; program evaluation; psychosocial