Online social support groups for informal caregivers of hospice patients with cancer.
Jacquelyn J Benson, Debra Parker Oliver, Karla T Washington and 4 others
PMID 31816508WHAT IT FOUND
In a hospice caregiver Facebook group, members mostly gave emotional support and shared feelings rather than asking directly for help.
Caregivers wanted more practical information and live interaction, but some found repeated death posts depressing.
Key findings
01Members mostly offered emotional support and mostly sought support by sharing feelings, while direct requests were uncommon.
02In exit interviews, caregivers wanted more informational support and live or face-to-face interaction, and some found repeated death announcements distressing.
03Companionship support was common but mostly brief welcomes, with fewer invitations to spend time together.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study did not test whether the online group helped caregivers; it described support exchanges and preferences, not outcomes. The sample was fairly homogeneous, so findings may not apply to caregivers of different ethnicities or genders. Not all group members were interviewed; 31 group members did not participate in exit interviews, including some who could not be reached or refused because of bereavement. The analysis did not show whether support was actually helpful to recipients; it only classified what was posted. The facilitator had a dual role as professional and active caregiver, which may have influenced group interactions. The study did not examine reciprocal exchanges or whether certain requests produced responses.
Declared interests
Data were collected as part of a trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. No other conflicts are reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the Facebook group reduced caregiver stress, depression, or burden. The study described what caregivers posted and said they wanted; it did not measure caregiver outcomes.