The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 50 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Empowering Processes and Outcomes of Participation in Online Support Groups for Patients With Breast Cancer, Arthritis, or Fibromyalgia
Abstract
Ever since the rise of online support groups it has been presumed that there is an empowering effect from patients' participating in these groups, despite a lack of evidence to back up this assumption. In this study we explored if, and in which ways, patients feel empowered by participation. Additionally, we studied which empowering and disempowering processes occur as a result of taking part in these groups. To accomplish this aim, we interviewed 32 participants of online support groups. This analysis revealed the following empowering processes: exchanging information, encountering emotional support, finding recognition, sharing experiences, helping others, and amusement. Disempowering processes were mentioned far less often. Empowering outcomes mentioned were being better informed; feeling confident in the relationship with their physician, their treatment, and their social environment; improved acceptance of the disease; increased optimism and control; enhanced self-esteem and social well-being; and collective action. This article demonstrates that participation in online support groups can make a valuable contribution to the emergence of empowered patients.
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Citations
Cites
Qualitative evaluation and research methods
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Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being?
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Semi-Structured Interviewing and Qualitative Analysis
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The top five reasons for lurking: improving community experiences for everyone
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“According to Bane et al. (2005) and Preece et al. (2004), lurkers are less likely to perceive online support groups as a source of support.”
BackgroundA concept analysis of empowerment
Gibson, C. H. (1991) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.1991.tb01660.x · Cited by 851
Loneliness and social uses of the Internet
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Cited by
ZIEBLAND, S., & WYKE, S. (2012) · The Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2012.00662.x · Cited by 554
Merolli, M., Gray, K., & Martin-Sanchez, F. (2013) · Journal of Biomedical Informatics · doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2013.04.010 · Cited by 320
van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Drossaert, C. H., Taal, E., Seydel, E. R., & van de Laar, M. A. (2008) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.992 · Cited by 280
Self-citationAllam, A., Kostova, Z., Nakamoto, K., & Schulz, P. J. (2015) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.3510 · Cited by 274
Bartlett, Y. K., & Coulson, N. S. (2011) · Patient Education and Counseling · doi:10.1016/j.pec.2010.05.029 · Cited by 234
Metadata
- Authors
- van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Drossaert, C. H. C., Taal, E., Shaw, B. R., Seydel, E. R., & van de Laar, M. A. F. J.
- Venue
- Qualitative Health Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-03
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 405-417
- ISSN
- 1049-7323 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7557
- OpenAlex
- W2141085468
- Cited by
- 469
- References
- 50
- FWCI
- 40.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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- van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Drossaert, C. H. C., Taal, E., Shaw, B. R., Seydel, E. R., & van de Laar, M. A. F. J. (2008). Empowering Processes and Outcomes of Participation in Online Support Groups for Patients With Breast Cancer, Arthritis, or Fibromyalgia. Qualitative Health Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307313429
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.
