Virtual networks for cancer patients of the 21st century: Patient empowerment, psychological well-being and trauma transcendence

With the advent of the Internet technology, a significant amount of communication is taking place among patients themselves. This research conceptualized cancer patients who were participating in online cancer support groups as proactive health care consumers in order to elicit informational and emotional support from other patients. Among the specific aims of the study were (a) exploration of the extent to which participation in internet based cancer support groups contributed to patient knowledge about illness, (b) the impact of online cancer support groups have on patients' health care choices and decisions (c) the extent to which online cancer groups affected patients' appraisal of their illness experience and (d) contributed to their psychological well being and to 'trauma transcendence' outcomes.;In order to test the proposed research model, a cross-sectional study of cancer patients was conducted. An online survey questionnaire was designed to collect self-report data. A sample of 350 cancer patients participated in the research. Data analysis using bivariate and multiple regression analyses allowed for testing stress based conceptual model anchored in proactive health care consumerism model of Kahanas' (2003). Path analysis of the conceptual model was conducted to reveal the explanatory power of each block of variables. Explanatory powers of the tested models (adjusted R squares) ranged from .30 for patient knowledge, .33 for patient participation in health care, .39 for patient psychological well-being and .45 for trauma transcendence for the outcome variables of the conceptual model.;Results of the analyses suggested that online cancer support groups contributed positively to coping resources of patients. Results indicated that we may be witnessing the emergence of proactive patients who use internet based support groups in order to better cope with illness stressors and 'empower' themselves as health care consumers. Results also suggested participation in online cancer groups influenced the appraisal of the illness experience and contributed positively to patient psychological well-being and trauma transcendence outcomes.