scholarly journals An Online Support Group Intervention for Adolescents Living with HIV in Nigeria: A Pre-Post Test Study

10.2196/12397 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. e12397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Dulli ◽  
Kathleen Ridgeway ◽  
Catherine Packer ◽  
Kate F Plourde ◽  
Tolulope Mumuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Support Group ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Test Study ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Living With Hiv

Content Analysis and User Characteristics of a Smartphone-Based Online Support Group for People Living with HIV

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 746-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabor E. Flickinger ◽  
Claire DeBolt ◽  
Erin Wispelwey ◽  
Colleen Laurence ◽  
Erin Plews-Ogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Online Support ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Living With Hiv

scholarly journals An Online Support Group Intervention for Adolescents Living with HIV in Nigeria: A Pre-Post Test Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Dulli ◽  
Kathleen Ridgeway ◽  
Catherine Packer ◽  
Kate F Plourde ◽  
Tolulope Mumuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hiv Knowledge ◽  
Test Study ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Living With Hiv

BACKGROUND Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIVs) enrolled in HIV treatment services experience greater loss to follow-up and suboptimal adherence than other age groups. HIV-related stigma, disclosure-related issues, lack of social support, and limited HIV knowledge impede adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and retention in HIV services. The 90-90-90 goals for ALHIVs will only be met through strategies targeted to meet their specific needs. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a social media-based intervention to improve HIV knowledge, social support, ART adherence, and retention among ALHIV aged 15-19 years on ART in Nigeria. METHODS We conducted a single-group pre-post test study from June 2017 to January 2018. We adapted an existing support group curriculum and delivered it through trained facilitators in 5 support groups by using Facebook groups. This pilot intervention included five 1-week sessions. We conducted structured interviews with participants before and after the intervention, extracted clinical data, and documented intervention implementation and participation. In-depth interviews were conducted with a subset of participants at study completion. Quantitative data from structured interviews and group participation data were summarized descriptively, and qualitative data were coded and summarized. RESULTS A total of 41 ALHIV enrolled in the study. At baseline, 93% of participants reported existing phone access; 65% used the internet, and 64% were Facebook users. In addition, 37 participants completed the 5-session intervention, 32 actively posted comments in at least one session online, and at least half commented in each of the 5 sessions. Facilitators delivered most sessions as intended and on-time. Participants were enthusiastic about the intervention. Aspects of the intervention liked most by participants included interacting with other ALHIVs; learning about HIV; and sharing questions, experiences, and fears. The key recommendations were to include larger support groups and encourage more group interaction. Specific recommendations on various intervention components were made to improve the intervention. CONCLUSIONS This novel intervention was feasible to implement in a predominantly suburban and rural Nigerian setting. Social media may be leveraged to provide much-needed information and social support on platforms accessible and familiar to many people, even in resource-constrained communities. Our findings have been incorporated into the intervention, and an outcome study is underway. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03076996; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03076996 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73oCCEBBC).

Social Support in a Virtual Community: Analysis of a Clinic-Affiliated Online Support Group for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3087-3099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabor E. Flickinger ◽  
Claire DeBolt ◽  
Ava Lena Waldman ◽  
George Reynolds ◽  
Wendy F. Cohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Analysis ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Investigation of the “alternative” effects of an online support group for mental health problems among Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Kobori ◽  
Naoki Yoshinaga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Usage Frequency

BACKGROUND Owing to the rapid development of social networking services, online support groups vary widely both in goal and structure. Several studies have shown the potential effectiveness of online support groups, such as reducing psychological distress (eg depression) among individuals with mental health problems. However, online support groups often do not aim at effectiveness regarding distress-relief-related outcomes. OBJECTIVE The U2plus.jp (hereinafter U2plus) is an online support group for individuals with depression; in it, people support each other in structured ways while engaging in simple cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises. This study aimed to examine if usage frequency of the U2plus functions are associated with decreased stigma and increased consumer. METHODS In total, 355 U2plus users took part in an online survey. They were asked what therapy they had ever received, how often they logged into it and used each of its functions, and completed the following questionnaires: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Perceived Devaluation Discrimination Scale, and the General Help Seeking Scale. RESULTS Regarding the therapy they received, 89.3% (n=308) had been on medication for mental health problems, and 67.5% (n=233) had received psychotherapy or mental health counselling. Regarding the usage frequency, approximately 20% of the participants signed in to U2plus and used its functions more than once a week. The usage frequency of U2plus functions was not associated with perceived stigma. However, usage frequency of some functions was correlated to help seeking intentions from formal sources (eg doctors and psychologists). Moreover, 90% of the participants had a history of medication for their mental health. Additionally, the more depressed participants were, the more frequently they used U2plus. CONCLUSIONS It was suggested that online support groups may serve as an alternative treatment option for those who are already undergoing pharmacological treatment and are willing to seek help from whatever source they deem helpful.

scholarly journals Exploring Unmet Needs from an Online Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group: A Qualitative Study

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 693
Author(s):  
Aravinthan Kadravello ◽  
Seng-Beng Tan ◽  
Gwo-Fuang Ho ◽  
Ranjit Kaur ◽  
Cheng-Har Yip
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
The Public

Background and Objective: Despite the increasing treatment options for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), unmet needs remain common, especially in low and middle-income countries where resources are limited and MBC patients face many challenges. They often join support groups to cope with their unmet needs. Currently, many MBC patients connect with each other via online support group in view of the constant availability of support and rapid information exchange. The objective of this study is to determine the unmet needs of women with MBC from an online support group. Material and Methods: Messages in an online support group of twenty-two MBC patients over a period of three years from August 2016 till August 2019 were thematically analyzed. Results: Three themes were generated, (1) unmet information needs (2) unmet financial needs (3) unmet support needs. Women needed information on side effects of treatment, new treatment options and availability of clinical trials. Although Malaysia has universal health care coverage, access to treatment remains a major challenge. When treatment was not available in the public hospitals, or waiting lists were too long, women were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals, incurring financial catastrophe. Insufficient private insurance and inadequate social security payments force many women to consider stopping treatment. Women felt that they were not getting support from their clinicians in the public sector, who were quick to stop active treatment and advise palliation. On the other hand, clinicians in the private sector advise expensive treatment beyond the financial capability of the patients. Women with families also face the challenge of managing their family and household in addition to coping with their illness. Conclusions: There is a need for healthcare professionals, policy makers, and civil society to better address the needs of MBC patients through patient-centered, multidisciplinary and multi-organizational collaboration.

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