TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors influencing engagement in an online support group for family caregivers of individuals with advanced cancer
AU - Washington, Karla T.
AU - Oliver, Debra Parker
AU - Benson, Jacquelyn J.
AU - Rolbiecki, Abigail J.
AU - Jorgensen, Lucas A.
AU - Cruz-Oliver, Dulce M.
AU - Demiris, George
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2020/5/3
Y1 - 2020/5/3
N2 - Objective: To explore factors that influenced engagement in an online support group (OSG) for family caregivers of hospice patients with cancer. Design: Secondary qualitative data analysis. Sample: 58 family caregivers of hospice patients with advanced cancer. Methods: Template analysis of individual family caregiver interviews. Findings: Emotional isolation and caregiving downtime positively influenced engagement, while reluctance to share personal information, a short timeframe of participation in the OSG, and caregiving commitments were negatively influential. While the group facilitation and secure privacy settings of the OSG were viewed positively, reactions to the OSG platform and group tone were mixed. Information on pain and the dying process was found to be particularly engaging. Practice implications: Providers offering OSGs for family caregivers should maximize factors that promote meaningful member engagement, responding to changes in activity and tone over time.
AB - Objective: To explore factors that influenced engagement in an online support group (OSG) for family caregivers of hospice patients with cancer. Design: Secondary qualitative data analysis. Sample: 58 family caregivers of hospice patients with advanced cancer. Methods: Template analysis of individual family caregiver interviews. Findings: Emotional isolation and caregiving downtime positively influenced engagement, while reluctance to share personal information, a short timeframe of participation in the OSG, and caregiving commitments were negatively influential. While the group facilitation and secure privacy settings of the OSG were viewed positively, reactions to the OSG platform and group tone were mixed. Information on pain and the dying process was found to be particularly engaging. Practice implications: Providers offering OSGs for family caregivers should maximize factors that promote meaningful member engagement, responding to changes in activity and tone over time.
KW - Cancer
KW - Internet
KW - caregivers
KW - engagement
KW - hospice
KW - support groups
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074826684&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07347332.2019.1680592
DO - 10.1080/07347332.2019.1680592
M3 - Article
C2 - 31690247
AN - SCOPUS:85074826684
SN - 0734-7332
VL - 38
SP - 235
EP - 250
JO - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
JF - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
IS - 3
ER -