Social media ‘can enhance satisfaction with breast cancer treatment’

A new study has indicated that engagement with social media can help guide breast cancer patients to better treatment decisions.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center surveyed 2,460 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer about their use of email, texting, social media and web-based support groups following their diagnosis.

It was shown that 41 percent reported some or frequent use of online communication, with 35 percent using texting and emails, 12 percent making use of social media sites and a further 12 percent relying on web-based support groups.

Women who engaged on social media after a breast cancer diagnosis were generally shown to express more deliberation about their treatment decision and more satisfaction with the option they selected.

Such tools provided them with an opportunity to interact about treatment options and physician recommendations, while they also helped patients deal with negative emotions and stress around their diagnoses.

Lead study author Dr Lauren Wallner, assistant professor of general medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said: "At this point, leveraging social media and online communication in clinical practice is not going to reach all patients. There are barriers that need to be considered."