title: A Model of Engagement Promotion in a Professionally Facilitated Online Intervention for Couples Affected by Breast Cancer.
abstract: Professionally facilitated web-based interventions for couples affected by an illness such as cancer are growing in popularity. Attrition rates for such online programs, however, are substantially higher than what is observed in face-to-face therapeutic contexts, and lower levels of participant engagement are associated with poorer outcomes. In the present investigation, a task analysis was employed to develop a model of engagement promotion in an online intervention for couples affected by breast cancer called "Couplelinks." Results indicated that facilitators utilized a variety of meta-processes, such as humanizing the technology, and associated "eBehaviors," to maintain three relationships involved in promoting online engagement: (a) between the facilitator and couple; (b) between the intervention and couple; and (c) between the partners within the couple.
authors.affiliation: York University. iana14@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Iana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ianakieva
authors.affiliation: York University.|Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fergus
authors.affiliation: York University.|Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
authors.forename: Saunia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: York University.
authors.forename: Alberta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pos
authors.affiliation: York University.|Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012932:Social Facilitation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*