A Critical Analysis of Online Social Support for Young People Experiencing Chronic Pain
Date
2021
Authors
Kavanagh, Eliza
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Thesis
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Abstract
Objective: Chronic pain is a prevalent and costly public health problem for young people. The associated physical, psychosocial, and psychological burdens, including higher degrees of social isolation, are well documented. New pathways to receive and offer support can be found within online social support (OSS). Research indicates OSS features impact the frequency of use, reach, safety and overall experience for the user. We conducted a rigorous internet search to identify and appraise the available English-language OSS worldwide for young people with chronic pain. Methods Through Google, two complementary search strategies were used to identify available OSS. In the first approach, Boolean operators were used to connect a string of search terms. To access websites young people might find online, a second approach was used following a standard Google query including four to six words. The general characteristics and features of the available OSS were then extracted. Results The two search strategies produced a total yield of 1319 websites. A total of 11 OSS websites were identified meeting inclusion criteria. Characteristics of OSS varied significantly, such as, moderation, site access requirements, and safeguarding features. Only two of the OSS sites, both being affiliated with a hospital, offered all of the features suggested by the literature to mitigate the potential for harm. Conclusions Despite the prevalence of chronic pain in young people and clear benefits to utilise support online, there is a paucity of available OSS. To enable the development of improved OSS for young people with chronic pain, the features and formal structures on which they are built should be considered.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (M.Psych(Health)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2021
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