TY - JOUR
T1 - Outcomes of online support and resources for cancer survivors
T2 - A systematic literature review
AU - Hong, Yan
AU - Peña-Purcell, Ninfa C.
AU - Ory, Marcia G.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was conducted by investigators who are part of the Central Texas Cancer Awareness, Research, Education & Support (CTxCARES). CTxCARES is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement number 1U48DP001924. We recognize faculty support from the Center for Community Health Development , which is a member of the Prevention Research Centers Program, supported by the CDC cooperative agreement number 5U48 DP000045. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC or NCI. The authors would also like to thank Isaac Saldivar, Chen Zhang, and Natalia Jimenez for assistance in the literature search and manuscript preparation.
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - Objective: This study aims to review systematically the available literature on health outcomes of online cancer support and resources. Methods: We searched major databases with the following selection criteria: (1) empirical study on use of online support or resources by cancer survivors, (2) reporting effects or outcomes of online support or resources, (3) focusing on adult cancer survivors, and (4) peer-reviewed articles published by 2010. Results: A total of 24 studies (37 articles) were included in the review. Most studies were focused on breast cancer survivors and had small sample sizes. Fifteen studies employed a cross-sectional design including eight qualitative studies. Only five studies used pre-post design, and four employed RCT design. The outcome measures have focused on psychosocial effects; most studies reported positive effects, although none of the RCT studies reported significant outcomes. Conclusion: Existing studies of online cancer support and resources have demonstrated preliminary but inconclusive evidence for positive outcomes. We call for additional studies with rigorous study designs and the inclusion of more diverse participants and cancer conditions. Practice implications: Connecting diverse cancer survivors to culturally appropriate, evidence-based online support and resources is a strategy to enhance health outcomes.
AB - Objective: This study aims to review systematically the available literature on health outcomes of online cancer support and resources. Methods: We searched major databases with the following selection criteria: (1) empirical study on use of online support or resources by cancer survivors, (2) reporting effects or outcomes of online support or resources, (3) focusing on adult cancer survivors, and (4) peer-reviewed articles published by 2010. Results: A total of 24 studies (37 articles) were included in the review. Most studies were focused on breast cancer survivors and had small sample sizes. Fifteen studies employed a cross-sectional design including eight qualitative studies. Only five studies used pre-post design, and four employed RCT design. The outcome measures have focused on psychosocial effects; most studies reported positive effects, although none of the RCT studies reported significant outcomes. Conclusion: Existing studies of online cancer support and resources have demonstrated preliminary but inconclusive evidence for positive outcomes. We call for additional studies with rigorous study designs and the inclusion of more diverse participants and cancer conditions. Practice implications: Connecting diverse cancer survivors to culturally appropriate, evidence-based online support and resources is a strategy to enhance health outcomes.
KW - Online cancer support
KW - Outcome research
KW - Review
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2011.06.014
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2011.06.014
M3 - Short survey
C2 - 21798685
AN - SCOPUS:84858072855
SN - 0738-3991
VL - 86
SP - 288
EP - 296
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
IS - 3
ER -