When it comes to sharing experiences caring for a child with cancer, parents often turn to social media as a way to connect with support.

Those are the findings of new research published online ahead of print by the journal Cancer Nursing.

“Little research has systematically studied how people use social networking sites when confronting serious illness,” says the paper’s first author, Elizabeth Gage-Bouchard, PhD, Associate Member of Cancer Prevention and Control at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

“Our study shows that personal Facebook pages offer a platform for cancer caregivers to share their cancer-related experiences, promote advocacy and awareness and mobilize social support,” adds Lynda Kwon Beaupin, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology in the Department of Paediatric Oncology.

Researchers examined personal Facebook pages of parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of childhood cancer, from May 2012 to May 2013.

The analysis of more than 15,000 Facebook posts found six primary categories of health communications on personal Facebook pages: 

1. documenting the cancer journey
2. sharing emotional strain associated with caregiving
3. promoting awareness and advocacy about paediatric cancer
4. fundraising
5. mobilising support
6. expressing gratitude for support

“Clinicians can educate parents on how to evaluate information obtained through Facebook using evidence-based guidelines. The health care team can and should encourage patients and their caregivers to connect with support and celebrate accomplishments throughout their cancer trajectory and Facebook is one vehicle for sharing this information and support,” adds Dr. Gage-Bouchard.

Source: Cancer Nursing