ArticleEcancermedicalscience2013
Real-world experience with colorectal cancer chemotherapies: patient web forum analysis.
Article in Ecancermedicalscience, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Systematic review on the prevalence, frequency and comparative value of adverse events data in social media.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2015Pooled it
- Use and taxonomy of social media in cancer-related research: a systematic review.American journal of public health · 2014Pooled it
- Bridging functional bionanomaterials and the clinic: strategic communication as a translational enabler.Journal of nanobiotechnology · 2026Review
- Understanding the impact of early onset colorectal cancer on quality of life: a qualitative analysis of online forum data.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Social isolation profiles and conditional process analysis among postoperative enterostomy patients with colorectal cancer.BMC psychology · 2024Article
- Exploring the information needs of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a content analysis of Facebook group posts.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Transferability Based on Drug Structure Similarity in the Automatic Classification of Noncompliant Drug Use on Social Media: Natural Language Processing Approach.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- The Use of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine in Cancer: Data-Mining Study of 1 Million Web-Based Posts From Health Forums and Social Media Platforms.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Information Patients With Melanoma Spontaneously Report About Health-Related Quality of Life on Web-Based Forums: Case Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Article
- Personal Accounts of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Organized as Patient-Reported Data: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.JMIR research protocols · 2021Article
- Satisfaction of astigmatic patients with toric nesofilcon A contact lenses.Clinical optometry · 2019Article
- Use of Social Media in the Assessment of Relative Effectiveness: Explorative Review With Examples From Oncology.JMIR cancer · 2018Article
- Review
- Article
- Risk and resilience factors of persons exposed to accidents.Clujul medical (1957) · 2016Article
- Work-related barriers, facilitators, and strategies of breast cancer survivors working during curative treatment.Work (Reading, Mass.) · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn contrast to clinical trials, patient web forums provide a unique opportunity for patients to spontaneously post their experiences and thoughts about diseases and treatments. This study explored the impact of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatments in these forums.
methodsThis was a systematic cross-sectional qualitative analysis. Two active CRC web forums were identified based on four criteria: active for ≥five years, >12,000 total posts, >20 individuals currently browsing, and ≥10 new posts/day. All relevant threads (set of messages focusing on a topic) relating to treatment posted in July and December 2010 and February to March 2011 were reviewed and coded using MaxQDA software. A content analysis was performed identifying key themes.
resultsThe threads included 1522 posts by 264 individuals. Demographics were identified for 83% of the posters. Of these, 83% were CRC patients and 17% were family members; 76% were females, and the mean patient age was 49 years. The majority had advanced cancer (44% stage IV or metastatic, 40% stage III). The most common themes were side effects (62.3% of posts), treatment response (13%), and impact on personal, social, and work lives, and emotional distress (23.9%). The posters came to the online forums to have an emotional outlet, share experience, and seek advice. The emotional impacts primarily exemplified resilience and positive coping strategies. Formal knowledge regarding the likelihood of treatment response, magnitude of benefit, or side effects was lacking, which lead to uncertainty and anxiety. However, patients expressed appreciation for the availability of treatment options and the hope they provide.
conclusionOnline CRC communities provide patients with convenient and valuable emotional support and disease information. CRC and treatments may have profound impacts beyond efficacy and toxicity. Systematic information and decision tools may help to minimise uncertainties and help patients manage expectations and emotional distress.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.