- Internet Use and Self-Rated Health Among Older People: A National Survey | Gracia | Journal of Medical Internet Research – Older people are among the segments of the population for which the digital divide is most persistent and are considered to be at risk of losing out on the potential benefits that the information society can provide to their quality of life. Little attention has been paid, however, to relationships between Internet use and actual indicators of health among older people.
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between Internet use and self-rated health among older people and determine whether this association holds independently of socioeconomic position. - Disparities by Race and Ethnicity in Cancer Survivor Stories Available on the Web | Eddens | Journal of Medical Internet Research – The rapid growth of eHealth could have the unintended effect of deepening health disparities between population subgroups. Most concerns to date have focused on population differences in access to technology, but differences may also exist in the appropriateness of online health content for diverse populations.
- Social Media Use in the United States: Implications for Health Communication | Chou | Journal of Medical Internet Research – The purpose of the study is to identify the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with current adult social media users in the United States.
- Alliance for CME Presentation: The Emerging Role of Open Source, Web 2.0 Technologies in Continuing Medical Education -
Archive for the ‘cancer’ Category
December 9th, 2009 By Jeremy Lundberg No Comments »
Social Media and Implications for Health Communication; Internet Use and Self-Rate Health in Older People…
December 7th, 2009 By Jeremy Lundberg No Comments »
MD Anderson Cancer Center and National Comprehensive Cancer Network Use Social Network to Improve Patient Satisfaction
Josh Bernoff discusses how MD Anderson Cancer Center and other members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) are embracing Web 2.0 technologies to improve patient satisfaction and care. It is yet another excellent example of how social networking technologies are being applied to have a positive impact across multiple dimensions of health care. (more…)
November 6th, 2009 By Jeremy Lundberg 2 Comments »
The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club Unify to Provide Support to All People Affected By Cancer
Yesterday, two prominent cancer support organizations, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club, announced they were merging under the new name, “The Cancer Support Community.” I was honored to have been invited to present on “Social Media: Transforming marketing and outreach in the not-for-profit world” at their annual National Cancer Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. The program was attended by more then 300 hundred healthcare professionals working in the field of psychosocial oncology.
Here is a snippet from the official press release:
“The Cancer Support Community offerings include a comprehensive menu of personalized and essential services, including support groups, counseling, education and healthy lifestyle programs. Additionally, the organization is working to expand its vital services to meet the urgent needs of cancer patients and their loved ones. To ensure no one has to face cancer alone, these support services will soon be available to people in all 50 U.S. states and internationally through the Cancer Support Community’s network of community-based centers, and at hospitals, community oncology practices and other non-profits, as well as online. The Cancer Support Community is also exploring the use of novel technologies, including mobile, to help extend the reach of these meaningful resources.
The Cancer Support Community is now the largest employer of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization includes a network of nearly 50 local Gilda’s Clubs and Wellness Community centers worldwide, more than 100 satellite locations and online support services that extend around the world. For more information about the Cancer Support Community, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org“.
We have had the pleasure of being The Wellness Community’s technology partner for the past ten years and are so pleased to see these two wonderful organizations join forces to help everyone affected by cancer through their free support and education programs!
October 21st, 2009 By Jeremy Lundberg No Comments »
Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT)
As the technology partner to the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT), we are pleased to announce the launch of the re-designed Website, ENACCT.org. ENACCT is a leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to cancer clinical trials through education and collaboration with communities, health care providers, and researchers. (more…)
June 17th, 2009 By Jeremy Lundberg 1 Comment »
Online Cancer Support Just Got Better…
The Wellness Community Online
Approximately 35% of people with cancer experience significant psychological distress, including depression and anxiety (Zabora, 2001). Since 2001, DLC Solutions has partnered with The Wellness Community to design and produce “The Wellness Community Online” (http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org). The Website is widely regarded as the first Website to offer free, professionally moderated online support groups and education programs to people living with cancer and their caregivers. In 2005, we designed and launched www.Grouploop.org to provide psychological support to teens affected by cancer.
As part of of our ongoing commitment to innovation and cancer care, DLC Solutions and TWC recently released a wealth of new social media features to enhance the community experience.
Website Features
- Professionally-led, real-time chat support groups
- Peer-to-peer social networking
- Secure, thematic discussion forums
- Personal blogs
- Video journals
- Webcasts and podcasts
- Instant messaging
- Interactive education modules
- Research tools to monitor symptoms and key quality of life indicators
Today, both Websites have provided peer-to-peer and professionally moderated support to thousands of people impacted by cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s Disease, and other chronic illnesses. The Wellness Community Online is also part of a research partnership between TWC, Stanford University, and the University of California at San Francisco designed to enhance access to quality psychological support to people living with cancer and other chronic illnesses. The research team has scientifically demonstrated that these online support groups are just as effective as face-to-face groups in reducing depression, increasing zest for life, and improving overall social functioning and quality of life. Review a complete listing of the research publications from this effort.
We are very excited to be a part of such a wonderful and impactful Web initiative and we look forward to continuing to expand the site to better help those affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
