Giving and Receiving Peer Advice in an Online Breast Cancer Support Group

Sillence, Elizabeth (2013) Giving and Receiving Peer Advice in an Online Breast Cancer Support Group. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16 (6). pp. 480-485. ISSN 2152-2715

[img]
Preview
PDF (Article)
nrl.northumbria.ac.uk_13713_1_revised_cybertherapy.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (599kB) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2013.1512

Abstract

People have access to experiential information and advice about health online. The types of advice exchanged affect the nature of online communities and potentially patient decision making. The aim of this study was to examine the ways in which peers exchange advice within an online health forum in order to better understand online groups as a resource for decision making. Messages collected over a one-month period from an online breast cancer support forum were analyzed for examples of advice exchange. The majority of the messages solicited advice through problem disclosure or requests for information and opinion. A novel form of advice solicitation—“anyone in the same boat as me”—was noted as was the use of personal experience as a form of advice giving. Women construct their advice requests to target like-minded people. The implications in terms of decision making and support are discussed.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: C800 Psychology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Dr Elizabeth Sillence
Date Deposited: 07 Oct 2013 10:38
Last Modified: 17 Dec 2023 14:31
URI: https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/13713

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics