Communication online with fellow cancer patients: Writing to be remembered, gain strength, and find survivors
Journal
Journal of Health Psychology
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
12
Pages
1572-1581
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Hsieh, Y.-L.
Abstract
This qualitative research explored how cancer patients' writing and reading on the Internet play a role in their illness experience. Focus-group interviews were conducted, with 34 cancer patients participating. A grounded qualitative analysis method was applied to analyze the interview transcripts. The results show that by writing personal blogs, cancer patients reconstructed their life story, expressed their closure of life, and expected to be remembered after death. Reading fellow cancer patients' stories online significantly influenced cancer patients' perceptions and expectations of their own illness prognosis, and that influence was sometimes greater than that of the doctors' influence. ? 2012 The Author(s).
Subjects
cancer; communication; coping; Internet; qualitative methods
SDGs
Other Subjects
adaptive behavior; article; coping behavior; human; information processing; Internet; interpersonal communication; neoplasm; psychological aspect; Qualitative methods; qualitative research; social support; survivor; Taiwan; cancer; communication; coping; Internet; qualitative methods; Adaptation, Psychological; Communication; Focus Groups; Humans; Internet; Neoplasms; Qualitative Research; Social Support; Survivors; Taiwan
Type
journal article