Blogging activity among cancer patients and their companions: Uses, gratifications, and predictors of outcomes

Abstract

This study examines cancer patients' and companions' uses and gratifications of blogs and the relationship between different types of blogging activities and gratification outcomes. In an online survey of 113 respondents, cancer patients were found to be more likely than their companions to host their own blogs. Four areas emerged as gratifications of blog use: prevention and care, problem-solving, emotion management, and information-sharing. Cancer patients and companions both found blogging activity to be most helpful for emotion management and information-sharing. Further, cancer patients were more gratified than their companions in the areas of emotion management and problem-solving. Regression analyses indicate that perceived credibility of blogs, posting comments on others' blogs, and hosting one's own blog significantly increased the explanatory power of the regression models for each gratification outcome.

Asking and sharing information in the blogosphere: The case of slimming blogs

“…Furthermore, since there is a dearth of comparable studies on blogs as forums of information seeking and sharing in everyday contexts, the evaluation of the findings is rendered difficult. However, the results have similarities with the findings of Chung and Kim's (2008) study. It showed that for cancer patients and companions blogs function primarily as tools for emotion management and information sharing rather than as tools for information seeking that serve the ends of problem solving.…”

Investigation of Cancer Patients’ Information Sources, Information Needs and Expectations of Health Professionals

“…[28] Bir çalışmada blogların kanser hastaları ve yakınları için duygu yönetimi ve bilgi paylaşımı açısından yararlı bir araç olduğu gösterilmiştir. [29] İnternet bilgi paylaşımı açısından önemli bir alan oluşturmaktadır, ancak internetten edinilen bilgiler her zaman doğru olmayabilir. Ayrıca sağlık personeli hastaya bilgi verirken hastalığın sürecini ve hastanın gereksinimlerini …”

Factors that influence public engagement with eHealth: A literature review

“…And finally, Chung and Kim [35] reported that blogs are perceived as credible sources of information on prevention and care in their self-administered questionnaire survey of 113 members of a cancer-related blog frequented by patients and carers.…”