Patients are becoming technologically savvy. The use of the Smartphone has made accessing information as simple as tapping on a downloaded application. For this discussion, please select a disease or condition and research online support groups and websites or applications you would recommend for patient education. Consider the information provided by USA.gov related to evaluating health information on the Internet (https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/How_To_Evaluate_Health_Information_on_the_Internet_Questions_and_Answers.aspx)
Please respond to each of the following prompts:
Choose 3 sites or applications (one must be a support group) and explain what the critical components are that you used to evaluate them.
Explain from a nursing perspective the benefits of each site and also what improvements are needed.
How do these sites or applications (one of which is a support group) support diverse and hard-to-reach populations?
Please be sure to provide appropriate APA-formatted in-text citations and references to support your response.
Patients are becoming technologically savvy
Disease or Condition: Cancer
Online Support Groups and Websites or Applications:
- CancerCare Support Community: This is a free online support community for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. It offers a variety of resources, including discussion boards, chat rooms, and blogs. The community is moderated by oncology social workers who provide support and guidance.
- Cancer.Net: This is a website from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It provides comprehensive information about cancer, including treatment options, side effects, and survivorship. The website is also available in Spanish.
- MyCancerTeam: This is a mobile app that provides cancer patients and caregivers with access to information, resources, and support. The app includes a symptom tracker, medication reminder, and message board.
- Accuracy: The information provided on the site or app should be accurate and up-to-date.
- Reliability: The site or app should be reliable and provide consistent information.
- Objectivity: The information provided on the site or app should be objective and not biased.
- Currency: The information provided on the site or app should be current and up-to-date.
- Relevance: The information provided on the site or app should be relevant to the patient's needs.
- Accessibility: The site or app should be accessible to people with disabilities.
- CancerCare Support Community: This site provides a safe and supportive environment for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to connect with each other and share their experiences. The site also provides access to information and resources about cancer.
- Cancer.Net: This website provides comprehensive information about cancer, including treatment options, side effects, and survivorship. The website is also available in Spanish, which makes it accessible to a wider range of patients and caregivers.
- MyCancerTeam: This app provides cancer patients and caregivers with access to information, resources, and support on the go. The app is easy to use and can be a valuable tool for managing cancer treatment.
- CancerCare Support Community: The site could be improved by adding more features, such as the ability to upload photos and videos.
- Cancer.Net: The website could be improved by adding more information about specific types of cancer.
- MyCancerTeam: The app could be improved by adding more features, such as the ability to connect with other cancer patients and caregivers in your area.
- CancerCare Support Community: The site is available in Spanish, which makes it accessible to a wider range of patients and caregivers. The site also offers support groups for specific populations, such as young adults with cancer and cancer patients from underserved communities.
- Cancer.Net: The website is available in Spanish and also offers information about cancer in other languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Vietnamese.
- MyCancerTeam: The app is available in both English and Spanish. The app also offers support groups for specific populations, such as young adults with cancer and cancer patients from underserved communities.
- USA.gov. (2023, March 8). How to evaluate health information on the internet. [Online] https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/How_To_Evaluate_Health_Information_on_the_Internet_Questions_and_Ans