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Social and psychological determinants of participation in internet-based cancer support groups

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Abstract

Purpose

In this study, we identified the social and psychological characteristics of Danish cancer patients that determine use of the internet for support.

Materials and methods

We invited 230 cancer patients taking part in a public rehabilitation program to participate in an internet module comprising training in the retrieval of cancer-related information from the internet and self-support groups. Persons who were motivated to join the internet groups (N = 100; 47%) were compared with persons who chose not to participate (N = 111) on the basis of self-reported baseline questionnaire data. Nineteen persons either did not return the questionnaire or had missing values in confounding variables.

Results

Cancer patients who were motivated to participate in internet support groups belong to higher socioeconomic groups (based on household income and employment) compared to non-participants. We observed no difference between the two groups in quality of life or psychological well-being, while coping to some extent seemed related to participation in internet support groups.

Conclusion

This study adds to the discussion on social inequality in internet use by cancer patients, showing that patients who are not inclined to use internet-based interventions are characterized by social position and employ more passive coping strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the IMK Foundation, the Tryg Foundation, and the Danish Cancer Society. The authors wish to acknowledge the important collaboration of the staff at Rehabilitation Center Dallund, Denmark, in providing time in the rehabilitation schedule at the center for the internet teaching lectures.

Disclosures

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosocial Cancer Research, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mette Terp Høybye, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn & Christoffer Johansen

  2. Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jane Christensen

  3. Research Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lone Ross

Authors
  1. Mette Terp Høybye
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  2. Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton
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  3. Jane Christensen
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  4. Lone Ross
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  5. Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
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  6. Christoffer Johansen
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Correspondence to Mette Terp Høybye.

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Høybye, M.T., Dalton, S.O., Christensen, J. et al. Social and psychological determinants of participation in internet-based cancer support groups. Support Care Cancer 18, 553–560 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0683-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0683-6

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