Cancer Survivorship: Embracing Virtual Communities

Abstract

Background: The need for health information has propelled cancer survivors and caregivers to search for information on the Internet. Little is known about how the Internet, as a source of health information and resources, is changing the healthcare relationship in survivorship care.Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of cancer survivors and caregivers with healthcare providers in the context of online health information and resources.Methodology: A secondary analysis of unanalyzed qualitative data from the 2006 Pew Internet and American Life Project (N = 1,680) was conducted to better understand how the Internet is transforming the healthcare relationship for participants of cancer-related online communities. Thematic clustering technique of qualitative content analysis was used to discover recurring themes in the healthcare relationship experienced by cancer survivors and caregivers in survivorship care.Findings: Content analysis of online survey responses (n = 488) revealed failures or inadequacies in healthcare relationships. Failed expectations were related to evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, informational support, and therapeutic interpersonal communication Nursing was noticeably absent in this context of healthcare relationships and online communities.Summary Concluding Statement: The immediacy of addressing failures in cancer survivorship care is recognized as a global nursing imperative. Advanced practice nurses have a prominent role in supporting survivors and caregivers in their journey with cancer. Advanced practice nurses are called to ensure that every cancer survivorship care plan addresses unmet needs related to evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, informational support, and therapeutic interpersonal communication. The visibility of advanced practice nurses in the arena of virtual communities is a nursing imperative for a healthy society. Background: The need for health information has propelled cancer survivors and caregivers to search for information on the Internet. Little is known about how the Internet, as a source of health information and resources, is changing the healthcare relationship in survivorship care. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of cancer survivors and caregivers with healthcare providers in the context of online health information and resources. Methodology: A secondary analysis of unanalyzed qualitative data from the 2006 Pew Internet and American Life Project (N = 1,680) was conducted to better understand how the Internet is transforming the healthcare relationship for participants of cancer-related online communities. Thematic clustering technique of qualitative content analysis was used to discover recurring themes in the healthcare relationship experienced by cancer survivors and caregivers in survivorship care. Findings: Content analysis of online survey responses (n = 488) revealed failures or inadequacies in healthcare relationships. Failed expectations were related to evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, informational support, and therapeutic interpersonal communication Nursing was noticeably absent in this context of healthcare relationships and online communities. Summary Concluding Statement: The immediacy of addressing failures in cancer survivorship care is recognized as a global nursing imperative. Advanced practice nurses have a prominent role in supporting survivors and caregivers in their journey with cancer. Advanced practice nurses are called to ensure that every cancer survivorship care plan addresses unmet needs related to evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, informational support, and therapeutic interpersonal communication. The visibility of advanced practice nurses in the arena of virtual communities is a nursing imperative for a healthy society.