Use and Taxonomy of Social Media in Cancer-Related Research: A Systematic Review
- 1 July 2014
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American Public Health Association in American Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 104 (7), e20-e37
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2014.301980
Abstract
Little is known about how social media are used in cancer care. We conducted a systematic review of the use and taxonomy of social media in cancer-related studies, in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. We located 1350 articles published through October 2013; 69 met study inclusion criteria. Early research (1996–2007) was predominantly descriptive studies of online forums. Later, researchers began analyzing blogs, videos shared on YouTube, and social networking sites. Most studies (n = 62) were descriptive, and only 7 reported intervention studies published since 2010. Future research should include more intervention studies to determine how social media can influence behavior, and more empirical research is needed on how social media may be used to reduce health disparities.Keywords
This publication has 80 references indexed in Scilit:
- Social media use by community-based organizations conducting health promotion: a content analysisBMC Public Health, 2013
- Young Women’s Experiences With Complementary Therapies During Cancer Described Through Illness BlogsWestern Journal of Nursing Research, 2013
- Who's talking about breast cancer? Analysis of daily breast cancer posts on the internetThe Breast, 2013
- Predictors of the change in the expression of emotional support within an online breast cancer support group: A longitudinal studyPatient Education and Counseling, 2013
- Cancer patients on Twitter: a novel patient community on social mediaBMC Research Notes, 2012
- Identifying Gender-Preferred Communication Styles within Online Cancer Communities: A Retrospective, Longitudinal AnalysisPLOS ONE, 2012
- Knowledge of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer among young women recruited using a social networking site: Table 1Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2012
- Social and Psychological Determinants of Levels of Engagement With an Online Breast Cancer Support Group: Posters, Lurkers, and NonusersJournal of Health Communication, 2012
- Dignity and Deferral Narratives as Strategies in Facilitated Technology-Based Support Groups for People with Advanced CancerNursing Research and Practice, 2012
- The process and effect of supportive message expression and reception in online breast cancer support groupsPsycho‐Oncology, 2011