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  • GPSH-2019-0524.R2_Proof_hi

    Rights statement: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Psychology and Health on 13/07/2020, available online:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08870446.2020.1792903

    Accepted author manuscript, 473 KB, PDF document

    Available under license: CC BY-NC: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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Understanding breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall experiences: a comparison of themes derived from social media posts and focus groups

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  • J. Currin-McCulloch
  • A. Stanton
  • R. Boyd
  • M. Neaves
  • Barbara Jones
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>31/07/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Psychology and Health
Issue number7
Volume36
Number of pages18
Pages (from-to)810-827
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date13/07/20
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Objective: Using two different analysis techniques, this study explored differences and similarities in information-seeking discourse and overall breast cancer experiences between posters to a Reddit board and breast cancer survivor focus groups. Design: This study incorporates two qualitative methods for determining themes in breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall cancer experiences. First, posts from a breast cancer-specific Reddit community were extracted and analysed using the meaning extraction method (MEM) to determine core themes. Then, investigators performed a thematic analysis of two focus groups of breast cancer survivors (N = 18). Finally, themes derived from each analysis method were compared. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures include themes extracted from Reddit posts and themes generated from breast cancer survivor focus groups. Results: Findings between qualitative methodologies represent similar yet nuanced themes in survivors’ discourse. The MEM resulted in seven themes: diagnosis, treatment process, social support, existentialism, risk, information-seeking and surgery. Focus groups revealed the same initial four MEM themes plus the following: disclosure, coping and fears. Conclusions: The MEM is a cost-effective research mechanism for informing common themes of experiences of cancer patients and survivors and may offer initial data to guide psychosocial oncology research design and recruitment. 

Bibliographic note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Psychology and Health on 13/07/2020, available online:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08870446.2020.1792903