Online Support Communities Research Articles

Pregnant women's coping strategies, participation roles and social support in the online community during the COVID-19

Pregnant women are experiencing enormous physical changes and suffering pregnancy-related losses, which may lead to depression symptoms during pregnancy. Given that the onslaught of COVID-19 had exacerbated pregnant women's anxiety because of disruptions in antenatal care and concerns regarding safe delivery, it is worth exploring how they obtain social support to cope with stress during COVID-19. Although many works have explored the impact of coping resources that people have on coping strategies, few studies have been done on the relationship between people's coping strategies and their acquisition of coping resources such as social support. To fill this gap, based on the stress and coping theory (SCT) and social penetration theory (SPT), this study investigates the impacts of pregnant women's different coping strategies on the acquisition of social support and the moderating role of the adverse impacts of COVID-19 and their online participation roles (support providers vs. support seekers) using the data of 814 pregnant women's online behavior from a parenting community in China11Although we have not been able to obtain the gender of the sample, given that the platform is to provide support for mothers or expectant mothers, we use the term “pregnant women” to refer to “pregnant people”.. Our study indicates that both women's superficial level disclosure and personal level disclosure positively affect online social support received. Moreover, self-disclosure about the adverse impacts of COVID-19 negatively moderates the relationship between personal level disclosure and social support received. Participation role positively moderates the relationship between personal level disclosure and social support received, but negatively moderates the relationship between superficial level disclosure and social support received. This paper makes theoretical contributions to the literature of SCT, SPT and the literature about social support in online communities.

506 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Reddit Support Group: Finding New Meaning in Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

IntroductionHidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammation of sweat glands that can result in abscesses and scarring, significantly impacting quality of life. Online support groups provide a platform to connect with other HS patients – increasingly important with pandemic-related social isolation. The popular social media site Reddit allows users with common interests, like HS, to form a community and share information. This study characterizes HS patients’ use of Reddit and social media more broadly before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis study consisted of a cross-sectional survey of HS patients treated at our institution between May 2021 and July 2021, collecting data on patient demographics, HS status, and social media support group usage/interest. A longitudinal analysis of use of a popular HS support page on Reddit from January 2019 to August 2021 was also conducted, analyzing the number of subscribers over time.ResultsThe number of subscribers to the subreddit r/Hidradenitis increased exponentially from January 2019 to August 2021 (R2= 0.9978 for exponential model fit to data); this suggests that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a greater increase in the number of subreddit subscribers. Further, 20 patients (90% female, mean age of 32.4 years) completed the survey that was administered. Participants were stratified into two groups: online support group users (n=8) and non-users (n=12). There were no significant differences in sex, age, education level, HS activity, antidepressant usage, and overall social media usage between these groups. However, there was a significant difference in Hurley staging between the two groups; 75% (n=6) of online support group users reported a Hurley III staging, while only 16.7% (n=2) of non-users self-reported as Hurley III (p=0.003). In terms of features patients desired to see in online support groups, non-users ranked the following categories of advice/information as important more frequently than current users: bandaging/dressing boils, living with HS, medical advice from professionals, causes of HS, and diet (p=0.047, p=0.043, p=0.043, p=0.047, and p=0.013, respectively).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that online support group use is associated with patients with HS of higher clinical severity. Since virtual support groups have an unprecedented importance due to increased social isolation and limited access to in-person support groups and health resources, healthcare providers may encourage non-users to partake in these online support communities during these trying times. Based on the needs and expectations of these patients as identified in this study, recommendations can be made to moderators of online communities to help fill any existing lacunae.

Vicarious Interactions in Online Support Communities: The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification

Abstract Online information seekers often do not actively post or engage in interactions with others, inviting research on how passive users of online communities benefit from the information they see. Based on the social identity model of deindividuation effects model (SIDE) and social identity theory, we proposed and tested the idea that observers of a supportive interaction online could relate to the observed support seeker based on their shared gender and, in turn, become vicariously influenced by the support provider’s message to the support seeker. An experiment using a sample of young adults (N = 326) in the United States provided support to the proposition. Furthermore, the outcomes of the vicarious interaction were qualified by the genders of the observed interactants and enhanced by the lack of profile photos. The findings advance the understandings of vicarious interaction in online context and guide the design of online communities to promote mental well-being. Lay Summary Ample evidence shows that people benefit tremendously from participating in online health support communities, but less is understood about how people who do not actively participate in interactions benefit from these communities. We conducted an online experiment using a sample of young adults in the United States. The results showed that females, compared with males, are more likely to be persuaded to seek professional counseling for mental health issues from observing a supportive conversation online. The persuasive effect of reading supportive interactions was enhanced when female participants shared the same gender with the observed support seeker and when the observed interactants had no profile photos.

The Value of Community: A Resident's Perspective

Article| February 2022 The Value of Community: A Resident's Perspective Litty John, MBBS, DA Litty John, MBBS, DA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar ASA Monitor February 2022, Vol. 86, 18–19. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000820384.66357.80 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Litty John; The Value of Community: A Resident's Perspective. ASA Monitor 2022; 86:18–19 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000820384.66357.80 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: community Online communities for professional networking and support have been around for decades, and most residents now entering training are already taking advantage of at least a few of these forums to make new connections and seek formal or informal guidance. ASA Community – the nation's largest online discussion platform for anesthesiologists – should certainly be one of them. Here's why. Residency is a period of high-intensity learning that focuses primarily on mastering “hard” clinical skills, but also ends in the expectation that graduates leave training equipped with the “soft” skills necessary to communicate effectively and organize and lead a care team. Easier said than done, as these leadership and life skills are rarely included in a resident's formal education. Many programs do acknowledge the importance of these skills and are looking for ways to incorporate them into residency training. That's where mentorship comes in, and there is value in casting... You do not currently have access to this content.

Using Large-scale Social Media Analytics to Understand Patient Perspectives About Urinary Tract Infections: Thematic Analysis.

BackgroundCurrent qualitative literature about the experiences of women dealing with urinary tract infections (UTIs) is limited to patients recruited from tertiary centers and medical clinics. However, traditional focus groups and interviews may limit what patients share. Using digital ethnography, we analyzed free-range conversations of an online community.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate and characterize the patient perspectives of women dealing with UTIs using digital ethnography.MethodsA data-mining service was used to identify online posts. A thematic analysis was conducted on a subset of the identified posts. Additionally, a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) probabilistic topic modeling method was applied to review the entire data set using a semiautomatic approach. Each identified topic was generated as a discrete distribution over the words in the collection, which can be thought of as a word cloud. We also performed a thematic analysis of the word cloud topic model results.ResultsA total of 83,589 posts by 53,460 users from 859 websites were identified. Our hand-coding inductive analysis yielded the following 7 themes: quality-of-life impact, knowledge acquisition, support of the online community, health care utilization, risk factors and prevention, antibiotic treatment, and alternative therapies. Using the LDA topic model method, 105 themes were identified and consolidated into 9 categories. Of the LDA-derived themes, 25.7% (27/105) were related to online community support, and 22% (23/105) focused on UTI risk factors and prevention strategies.ConclusionsOur large-scale social media analysis supports the importance and reproducibility of using online data to comprehend women’s UTI experience. This inductive thematic analysis highlights patient behavior, self-empowerment, and online media utilization by women to address their health concerns in a safe, anonymous way.

A survey of patients with laryngotracheal stenosis on future clinical trial design.

Laryngotracheal stenosis is a rare but devastating proximal airway fibrosis that restricts a patient's ability to breathe. Treatment is primarily surgical and to date, there has never been a multi-institutional, randomized, prospective, and interventional clinical trial for a medical therapy to treat laryngotracheal stenosis. Therefore, we aimed to obtain patient feedback to guide successful trial design, recruitment, retention, and for identifying potential barriers to study participation. Over 1000 members of an international laryngotracheal stenosis online support community (the Living with Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis Facebook group) were sent two questionnaires for a proposed interventional double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 317 and 558 participants responded to the first and second surveys, respectively. The majority of participants (77%) were willing to consider enrollment, regardless of having a 50% chance of receiving placebo versus treatment (78%). The majority (84%) of participants were willing to travel 200 miles to participate for up to six in-person visits over 50 days. Specific side effects, including anemia/thrombocytopenia (72%) or risk of infection (69.3%) had the greatest impact on clinical trial participation with other side effects (peripheral edema (53%), oral ulcers (51%), and gastrointestinal side effects (41%)) having less impact. Patients with laryngotracheal stenosis possess nuanced insight into their disease and treatment options. As a group, they are extremely motivated for better therapies. Future laryngotracheal stenosis clinical trials should focus on providing excellent side effect -related education and utilizing feedback from online advocacy groups to optimize recruitment and retention.

Parent health and wellbeing at home before and during COVID-19

Environments of parenthood are changing with increasing rates of dual-working households, more single-parent and non-traditional families, increasing cost of childcare, and growing reliance on online communities for information and support. However, everyday parenthood activities are still primarily conducted at “home”. In this paper, we draw on a study which initially aimed to explore parent health and wellbeing in everyday contexts before COVID-19, but the pandemic shaped the enquiry further. Our empirical research is based on an online survey with a sample of UK parents (n = 274). Findings presented here relate to qualitative data focused on descriptions of parenthood at home, analysed thematically. Our study reveals how everyday activities of parenthood, including intersections with work and socialisation, are experienced in and through the home in ways that impact health and wellbeing. Significantly, it connects home-life changes created during COVID-19 “lockdowns” with longer-term considerations of parent needs.

Abstract PO-020: An examination of online experiences among young adult cancer patients and caregivers reveals the pervasiveness and influence of diet and supplement-related misinformation

Abstract Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients and caregivers identify unmet information needs as a top priority, in part, because they experience disparities throughout cancer, including higher mortality, financial toxicity, lack of support, and late diagnosis. While the Internet is increasingly used by this population for cancer information seeking, the perception of online information among AYAs is not well studied. We describe AYA patients and caregivers' experiences with online cancer information. Methods: From March-July 2021, we recruited participants via online repositories (e.g., ResearchMatch), posted flyers on social media, and a large AYA conference. We conducted telephone interviews with AYA cancer patients and caregivers who spoke English and were ages 18-39 (N=17). We summarized sociodemographic and cancer factors, then categorized feedback about participant's experiences with 1) cancer information/misinformation and 2) the influence of misinformation on their decisions and behaviors. Results: Average age was 32 years (SD: 3.9), 65% identified as female and 53% had a graduate degree. Daily social media use was common: Facebook (65%), Instagram (65%), YouTube (53%), Twitter (47%), LinkedIn (23%), TikTok (23%), Snapchat (18%) and Pinterest (18%). Participants noted that cancer information on social media is problematic because it is non-specialized, inaccurate and/or unhelpful. Over one-third felt cancer information on social media remains very inaccessible because it is vague or not relevant to their cancer diagnosis (e.g., rare cancers). Three participants experienced unsolicited advice or rude/insensitive comments online, including judgements about delaying treatment or pressure to maintain a toxic positivity about the cancer experience. The majority reported online misinformation focused on diet and lifestyle changes including using essential oils, taking supplements-like ESSIAC (e.g., herbal tea alternative to chemotherapy), changing to a vegan or sugar free diet, and/or drinking alkaline water. Misinformation exposure led participants to engage other online sources (i.e., WebMD) and their healthcare providers to investigate online claims. Some participants experimented with diet-related claims they deemed would have no detrimental effect on their health or treatment (i.e., drinking alkaline water). Participants who experienced unsolicited and insensitive comments blocked the user or unadded them from their personal pages, while one participant chose to completely stop posting their cancer experience on social media. Conclusions: AYAs may be especially vulnerable to online information that seeks to alter their perceptions of cancer, cancer treatment, and cancer caregiving, particularly in the context of lifestyle behaviors. If they felt it was safe, participants acted upon information of questionable legitimacy from social media. Other negative aspects of online cancer interactions influenced caregivers' decisions to leave online support communities and modify relationships with their social networks. Citation Format: Echo L. Warner, Margaret Raber, Ashley Green, Keely Smith, Jennifer Traslavina Jimenez, Terry Badger. An examination of online experiences among young adult cancer patients and caregivers reveals the pervasiveness and influence of diet and supplement-related misinformation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-020.

Exploring predictors of and barriers to online prostate cancer community use: A cross‐sectional survey of users and non‐users

Prostate cancer survivors are increasingly turning to online communities for support. This study explored predictors of and barriers to use. A prospective survey of 141 Australian prostate cancer survivors assessed sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial, and attitudinal characteristics associated with intention to use, and subsequent use of online communities. The sample was divided into current, past, and non-user groups. Current users reported more intent to use online communities and had higher levels of social support. Current and past users, and their close contacts, held a more positive attitude towards use. Non-users experienced more barriers to use, fewer life impacts due to health changes, and were more likely to live in rural or remote regions. According to current users online prostate cancer communities are too informal, to past users they are too time intensive, and non-users believe they are too shallow. The most critical barriers to use were finding a suitable community, time to use them, and being capable of talking about or articulating their illness on the Internet. While these forums allow men to share experiences, gain recognition and understanding, and receive information, they may lead men to becoming too preoccupied with their illness and feeling more concerned about the consequences of their disease. Improving attitudes towards online communities and reducing barriers to use may help better encourage men with unmet supportive care needs to seek help from these groups. Future research exploring supporter attitudes towards use and explicating how men are supported online is needed.

Acknowledging bereavement, strengthening communities: Introducing an online compassionate community initiative for the recognition of pandemic grief.

Despite public health measures and collective efforts, millions of individuals have unfortunately died from COVID-19 complications worldwide, leaving several million family members at risk of developing bereavement complications. In the Canadian province of Quebec, where substantial deaths were associated with COVID-19, we established an online support community for bereaved caregivers who lost a loved one during the pandemic. We explain how we created a community that recognized pandemic grief and advocated for its wider acknowledgment. We discuss "compassionate communities," the theoretical underpinning of our initiative, as a means to foster solidarity, normalize finitude, create and maintain a safe social space through group sharing, and challenging capitalist principles. We then describe the eight areas of activities inspired by the Charter of Pallium Canada: education and training, hospices and nursing homes, media and social media, commemoration, celebrations, artistic practices and storytelling, marginalized populations, and review and evaluate. We propose that online communities constitute a powerful space for community members to gather and advocate for greater awareness of the inequities found in end-of-life care and bereavement services, to denounce abusive situations experienced by many individuals who died from COVID-19 complications, and to fight against the lack of recognition experienced by numerous caregivers.

Being the infidelity partner: Narratives of lived experiences in an online support group

Taking into account the secretive nature of infidelity experiences and their adverse impact on the involved partners, the aim of the present qualitative study was to examine how individuals—who have been engaged in extradyadic relationships, as “affair partners”—narrate their experiences in an online support group. The study analyzed 60 posts, published over a period of 6 months in an online support community. Three main themes emerged through the thematic analysis conducted. The first theme involved conflicting dimensions of affair partner experience, in which the following sub-themes were identified: 1) living in the shadow of loss, and 2) the prevalence of ambivalence: when opposite impulses coexist. The second theme refers to the centripetal aspects of the relationship and within this section the following sub-themes are defined: 1) the relationship as a supportive environment and 2) between plenitude and dearth: the desire for exclusivity. Finally, the third theme refers to the lessons learned by the affair partners and their generalizing conclusions such experiences. The present study underlines how group participants reconstruct their experiences of extradyadic relationships and how they create new ways of meaning making about them. The findings involve reflexive conclusions about intimate relationships capturing elements of broader cultural narratives, representations and dilemmas of self and relationships, as presented in written transactions in online support groups.

The use of social media platforms to discuss and educate the public on allergic contact dermatitis.

Social media platforms are increasingly used by patients to research and discuss medical problems. The aim of this study was to identify by whom, how frequently, and in what manner allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is discussed on social media sites. Search terms "allergic contact dermatitis" and "contact dermatitis" were queried across Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, YouTube, and Google search metrics. The frequency, content, and creators of the content were assessed. ACD content was identified on all platforms, generated by by patients, physicians, professional organizations, and companies. When comparing the volume of posts, more content was on Instagram than Twitter, particularly among patients. Patient support groups were identified on Facebook but not on Reddit. A formal analysis of YouTube videos found that the medical information presented in these videos was often of poor quality. Patch testing physicians should be aware that information on ACD exists across social media sites. While some content is generated by physicians, patients and industry groups also post and share material. Patch testing physicians should know that there is an opportunity to share ACD information, but they should also be aware that patients are posting and creating online support communities independent of physicians. Online support communities exist for patients with ACD on Facebook. Online information is of lower quality, with a mean QUEST quality score of 7.4/28 on reviewed YouTube videos. Of the five social media sites reviewed, patients are most active on Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook. Approximately 9000 Google searches per month are conducted using contact dermatitis-related search terms. Differences in terminology exist between physicians and non-physicians. While the most popular hashtag term was "contact dermatitis", physicians disproportionately authored posts tagged with "allergic contact dermatitis."

An Exploration of Online Support Community Participation Among Patients With Vestibular Disorders.

To formally document online support community (OSC) use among patients with vestibular symptoms and gain an appreciation for the perceived influence of participation on psychosocial outcomes and the impact on medical decision-making. Self reported internet-based questionnaire. The Facebook search function was paired with a comprehensive list of vestibular diagnoses to systematically collect publicly available information on vestibular OSCs. Next, a survey was designed to gather clinicodemographic information, OSC characteristics, participation measures, perceived outcomes, and influence on medical decision-making. The anonymous instrument was posted to two OSCs that provide support for patients with general vestibular symptoms. Seventy-three OSCs were identified with >250,000 cumulative members and >10,000 posts per month. The survey was completed by 549 participants, a cohort of primarily educated middle-aged (median=50, interquartile range 40-60), non-Hispanic white (84%), and female (89%) participants. The participants' most cited initial motivation and achieved goal of participants was to hear from others with the same diagnosis (89% and 88%, respectively). Daily users and those who reported seeing ≥5 providers before receiving a diagnosis indicated that OSC utilization significantly influenced their requested medical treatments (72% daily vs. 61% nondaily, P=.012; 61% <5 providers vs. 71% ≥5 providers P=.019, respectively). Most participants agreed that OSC engagement provides emotional support (74%) and helps to develop coping strategies (68%). Membership of ≥1 year was associated with a higher rate of learned coping skills (61% membership <1-year vs. 71% ≥1-year P=.016). The use of OSCs is widespread among vestibular diagnoses. A survey of two OSCs suggests these groups provide a significant source of peer support and can influence users' ability to interface with the medical system. NA Laryngoscope, 132:1835-1842, 2022.

The Relationship between the Infertility Specialist and the Patient during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The doctor–patient relationship is fundamental in the treatment of infertility, due to the emotional implications of fertilization procedures. However, insufficient data are available specifically for this relationship. The general objective of the study is to establish the associations between the fundamental concepts that define the doctor–patient relationship: communication, empathy, trust, collaboration, compliance and satisfaction. A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2020 and followed the methods of a quantitative analysis, collecting the data using questionnaires. The research plan was specific to path analysis with the mediation effect, in which the hypotheses were tested. The research group consisted of 151 women diagnosed with infertility, voluntarily recruited through online support communities. Findings demonstrate that affective empathy mediates the relationship between communication and trust in the doctor. In conclusion, this study draws attention to the importance of basic concepts in the relationship of infertility specialists with infertile patients. Thus, it is necessary for health care providers in assisted human reproduction to participate in programs for the continuous training of empathic communication skills, given the sensitivity of this diagnosis.

Underdiagnosis of cardiopulmonary involvement in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

ObjectivesIn the course of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies internal organs, including heart and lungs, can be involved. Cardiopulmonary complications significantly alter the course of the disease, leading to poorer prognosis. A lack of clear guidelines on the assessment of internal organ involvement in the course of myositis increases the risk of underdiagnosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of clinical symptoms indicative of cardiovascular and pulmonary involvement in patients with myositis, and the impact of these ailments on daily living.Material and methodsA self-designed online survey was distributed via online support groups and community forums for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. The questionnaire contained inquiries about demographical data, clinical symptoms, including symptoms indicative of cardiopulmonary involvement, as well as the standardised Health Assessment Questionnaire. Respondents were divided according to concomitant diseases into a subgroup diagnosed with cardiopulmonary diseases and a subgroup without such comorbidities. The prevalence of cardiopulmonary symptoms was compared between the subgroups. The impact of cardiopulmonary symptoms on the degree of disability and daily functioning was assessed.ResultsIn total, 370 patients were included in the study group. The most commonly symptoms included dyspnoea during exercise, palpitations and ankle oedema during daily activities. Cardiopulmonary symptoms were frequent in respondents diagnosed with cardiopulmonary diseases and in patients declaring no comorbidities of the heart and lungs. Intensity of chest pain, tolerance of physical activity, and fatigue were comparable in both of the study subgroups. The degree of disability was higher in respondents with concomitant cardiovascular and/or pulmonary comorbidities, but only dry cough and ankle oedema impacted the results.ConclusionsClinical symptoms indicative of heart and lung involvement occur frequently in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies; however, cardiopulmonary complications seem to be relatively rarely detected. Active screening for cardiopulmonary involvement is recommended.

Digital affordances: how entrepreneurs access support in online communities during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has caused significant and unforeseen problems for entrepreneurs. While entrepreneurs would normally seek social support to help deal with these issues, due to social distancing, physical networks are often not available. Consequently, entrepreneurs must turn to alternative support sources, such as online communities, raising the question of how support is created in such spaces. Drawing on an affordance perspective, we investigate how entrepreneurs interact with online communities and base our qualitative analysis on conversation data (76,365 posts) from an online community of entrepreneurs on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings draw out four affordances that online communities offer to entrepreneurs (resolving problems, reframing problems, reflecting on situations, refocusing thinking and efforts), resulting in a framework of entrepreneurial support creation in online communities. Thus, our study contributes to debates around (1) entrepreneurs’ support during COVID-19 and (2) digital affordances in the entrepreneurship context.

Technical Features of Asynchronous and Synchronous Community Platforms and their Effects on Community Cohesion: A Comparative Study of Forum-based and Chat-based Online Mental Health Communities

AbstractAcross online support communities, community cohesion varies by platform and can impact the self-disclosure of members and their exchanges of social support. Through a comparative study of forum and chat-based mental health communities, this research examines how technical features of both platforms influence community cohesion by affecting communication patterns among members, including evenness of communication, speed of communication, and number of participants. This study collected four weeks of data from 20 forum-based and 20 chat-based mental health communities in mainland China. Multilevel mediation analyses show that chat-based communities were more cohesive with higher member retention, network connectedness, and language conformity. Chat-based platforms facilitated faster communication and greater evenness of receiving messages among participants which in turn fostered community cohesion.

P–494 The relationship between the infertility specialist and the patient during the COVID–19 pandemic

Study questionWhat are the basic elements of the infertility specialist - patient relationship?Summary answerFor study participants, elements such as empathy, communication, collaboration and trust are important factors in increasing compliance and satisfaction with treatment.What is known alreadyIn the literature, the doctor-patient relationship is seen as fundamental in the treatment of infertility, due to the emotional implications of fertilization procedures. However, not much data is available specifically for this relationship. Communication and interpersonal skills, empathy, trust, collaboration, compliance and satisfaction are essential elements in this medical context.Study design, size, durationA cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2020 and follows the methods of a quantitative analysis, the data being collected using questionnaires. The research plan is one specific to the path analysis with mediation effect, in which the hypotheses were tested.Participants/materials, setting, methodsThe research group consists of 151 women diagnosed with infertility, voluntarily recruited through online support communities. Self-reported questionnaires provided socio-demographic information, information related to infertility, as well as information on the relationship of patients with specialists. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, an analysis of structural equations was performed, using the AMOS 20 program.Main results and the role of chanceAccording to statistical indicators, CMIN / DF = 2.124, RMSEA = .087 and the p value of the Chi-square is less than 5% significance level, the model proposed is accepted. Based on the reported NFI and CFI values ​​(.777 and .867), as well as the values of ​​RFI = .763, IFI = .868 and TLI = .859, it can be concluded that the model is appropriate for the sample data. The p value of all constructors is less than .05, except for trust in doctor - cognitive empathy and patient satisfaction. All the others paths are significant: the effect of communication on treatment compliance, mediated by trust in specialist and collaboration; the effect on communication on treatment compliance, mediated by affective empathy, trust in specialist and collaboration; the effect on communication on patient satisfaction, mediated by affective empathy and trust in doctor; the direct effect of communication on trust in doctor, as well as the mediated effect by affective empathy. Regarding the relationship with doctor during the COVID–19 pandemic, 33% of the study participants stated that the pandemic affected the relationship with doctor, and 44% discontinued contact with specialist and medical procedures between March and June 2020.Limitations, reasons for cautionOnly infertile, voluntary women participated in this study, which limits the generalizability to other populations. Because the data are cross-sectional and correlational, the direction of causation is not proven. Additional experimental research on larger populations is needed to examine the effects of communication on patient satisfaction and compliance.Wider implications of the findings: The study draws attention to the importance of basic concepts in the relationship of specialists with infertile patients. Thus, it is necessary for health care providers in assisted human reproduction to participate in programs for the continuous training of empathic communication skills, given the sensitivity of this diagnosis.Trial registration numberNot applicable

A qualitative content analysis of an online support forum for family members of individuals with reported histories of sexual offences

Few studies have examined the impact of sexual offences on non-offending family members. Using thematic content analysis of posts on a relevant, anonymous online support community website, the current study identified the experiences and needs of family members following a sexual offence. Findings indicate that collateral consequences of legal restrictions, coupled with stigma, result in enduring emotional, social, and practical difficulties for non-offending family members. In addition, family members highlighted an important role in providing practical and emotional support for alleged perpetrators managing offence-related challenges. Uncertainty surrounding registration requirements serves as a barrier to maintaining and accessing housing, planning key life events, and helping family members comply with parole requirements. Overall, findings serve to identify key challenges confronting non-offending family members and inform the design of services to support positive relationships associated with reduced re-offending.

CONSTRUCTION OF MOTHERS IDENTITY IN ONLINE COMMUNITY: STUDY OF MEMBERS OF HALO IBU COMMUNITY

Transition to motherhood presents many challenges for women. Negotiating changes and self-identity has become one of the most intriguing ones. During this period, women’s need for information and support increase. ‘Halo Ibu’, the pioneer of the maternal support online community, aims to help women in their transition to motherhood. This research attempts to investigate how mothers’ identity, constructed with the background of their community members as well as to know the role that community, plays in the lives of a mother. The theory used is Mead’s Symbolic Interactionism and the concept of mother identity construction proposed by Laney et al. This is a qualitative study with a constructivist paradigm. This research employed interviews and observation as data gathering processes. The informants were the founder, the content creators, and the coordinator of the community. Results indicated that there was a simultaneous dialectic process between internalization, objectivation, and externalization about the community’s values which are self-love, self-awareness, and non-judgemental support. This process was present during the phase of mother identity construction. Even though it is an online community, the construction of reality regarding community and identity concepts is based on experiences, interactions, and information searched by individuals both online and offline.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;