Degree
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Lorie Donelle RN, PhD
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among North American women. Individuals need accessible and reliable health information for self-care and self-health promotion. Increasingly, individuals are contributing to and accessing information about cancer, using interactive online resources such as YouTube. The purpose of this research was to investigate the personal YouTube video blogs of women with breast cancer and their portrayed messages. This study used a narrative inquiry to examine the video blogs of four women with breast cancer. The women talked about having cancer as a transformative experience. Information about breast cancer from healthcare providers was helpful but not always sufficient. The women sought and provided additional information on treatments, complementary and alternative methods, side effects, prosthetics, and changes to their identity. YouTube is growing in importance as a source of peer-to-peer health information sharing and support.
Recommended Citation
Kressler, Jenna, "Women's Stories of Breast Cancer: Sharing Information Through YouTube Video Blogs" (2014). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 2095.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2095