Empowerment in cyberspace - Electronic discussion helps cancer pat...( Isolation and the feeling of being out ...),Health

Isolation and the feeling of being out of control of one's life are common experiences for cancer patients. The Internet can be a valuable tool in helping to make patients feel part of an understanding community, said Mette Terp Hoeybye, from the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Copenhagen, Denmark, speaking at ECCO 12 The European Cancer Conference today (Monday 22 September).

Breast cancer patients participating in the Scandinavian Breast Cancer Mailing List were recruited to the eight-month study, which took the form of participants e-mailing each other about personal experience of breast cancer. "For example", said Ms. Hoeybye, "a newly diagnosed woman would enter the group seeking experience and advice from other women who had already undergone surgery and other treatments. It gave the women the opportunity not just to talk about the technicalities of treatment, but also to share their feelings and emotions about having cancer."

Women took the opportunity to ask each other about such questions as how to tell their children of their diagnosis, or how to cope with a daughter's fears that she might also have breast cancer. Such posts would start a wider discussion in the group, where advice of both a practical and an emotional nature could be given.

Data were produced through participant observations on-line and face-to-face interviews by Ms Hoeybye and the setting up of focus groups. Participants were also asked to keep diaries. The women said that they experienced both improved well-being and empowerment from being in the electronic group.

In Denmark 77% of the population has access to the internet, and this makes it more than just the middle-class phenomenon it is in some European countries. But it is important to extend the opportunity of using the internet both for retrieving information and for social support to people in low income groups as well, said Ms Hoeybye. " Health policymakers should think about giving prio
'"/>

Contact: Mary Rice
mary.rice@blueprintpartners.be
45-3252-4163
Federation of European Cancer Societies
22-Sep-2003

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Electronic medical records reduce hours, cut cost
2. Electronic nose device proves effective for diagnosing pneumonia and sinusitis
3. Electronic device standards to yield choicer chops
4. Electronic job aid to benefit healthcare workers and patients
5. Keeping Electronic Patient Records Whilst Maintaining Privacy Is Feasible With Appropriate Systems In Place
6. Electronic Nose Inspects Cheese, Hints At Human Sense Of Smell
7. Ethical discussion should come before research
8. Herbal supplements testing topic of discussion at chemistry meeting March 30
9. Discussion plus pamphlet better than just discussion for informed consent
10. Study reviews discussion of medical errors at hospital conferences
11. Protein that helps skin cancer spread identified by Stanford researchers