ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2016
Therapeutic Affordances of Online Support Group Use in Women With Endometriosis.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 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
36 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Barriers and facilitators to self-management of chronic conditions reported by women: a systematic review of qualitative studies.BMJ open · 2024Pooled it
- Self-management in condition-specific health: a systematic review of the evidence among women diagnosed with endometriosis.BMC women's health · 2019Pooled it
- Telehealth Interventions Delivering Home-based Support Group Videoconferencing: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2018Pooled it
- A Cross-Sectional Study Utilizing Online Support Communities for Tic Disorders: the Association between Participation Duration and Quality of Life in Children with Tic Disorders and Their Caregivers.European journal of pediatrics · 2026Article
- Information-Seeking Behaviours of CALD Women with Endometriosis in Australia: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Factors Influencing Fear of Progression in Endometriosis: A Path Analysis Using the Common-Sense Model.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Article
- How Women with Endometriosis Use Social Media for Support and Self-Management: An Analysis of Reddit Content.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Exploring endometriosis community needs to co-create the EndoZone digital health platform: a qualitative research study.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Article
- Learn to Live Again: A Pilot Study to Support Women Experiencing Domestic Violence.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Endometriosis Communities on Reddit: Quantitative Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- A mixed studies systematic review on the health and wellbeing effects, and underlying mechanisms, of online support groups for chronic conditions.Communications psychology · 2025Article
- Endometriosis in Adolescence: A Narrative Review of the Psychological and Clinical Implications.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Good-Quality mHealth Apps for Endometriosis Care: Systematic Search.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Cosmetic Medical Tourists' Use of Online Support Communities: Sharing Information, Reciprocity, and Enduring Relationships.Qualitative health research · 2024Article
- Alexithymia and Loneliness in Women with Endometriosis. Testing the Factorial Structure of the Italian Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30) and a Mediation Model.Clinical neuropsychiatry · 2023Article
- Exploring Social Support in an Online Support Community for Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders: Analysis of Postings.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- The Role of Online Support Groups in Helping Individuals Affected by HIV and AIDS: Scoping Review of the Literature.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Impact of Sexual Harassment and Social Support on Burnout in Physician Mothers.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2022Article
- Challenges of and possible solutions for living with endometriosis: a qualitative study.BMC women's health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe Internet has provided women living with endometriosis new opportunities to seek support online. Online support groups may provide a range of therapeutic affordances that may benefit these women.
objectiveTo examine the presence of therapeutic affordances as perceived by women who use endometriosis online support groups.
methodsSixty-nine women (aged 19-50 years, mean 34.2 years; 65.2% (45/69) United Kingdom, 21.7% (15/69) United States) participated in a Web-based interview exploring online support group use. Participants had been using online support groups for an average of 2 years and 4 months (range = 1 month to 14 years, 9 months). Responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
resultsThe analysis revealed 4 therapeutic affordances related to online support group use: (1) "connection," that is, the ability to connect in order to support each other, exchange advice, and to try to overcome feelings of loneliness; (2) "exploration," that is, the ability to look for information, learn, and bolster their knowledge; (3) "narration," that is, the ability to share their experiences, as well as read about the experiences of others; and (4) "self-presentation," that is, the ability to manage how they present themselves online. The associated outcomes of use were predominantly positive, such as reassurance and improved coping. However, a number of negative aspects were revealed including the following: concerns about the accuracy of information, arguments between members, overreliance on the group, becoming upset by negative experiences or good news items, and confidentiality of personal information.
conclusionsOur findings support the previously proposed SCENA (Self-presentation, Connection, Exploration, Narration, and Adaptation) model and reveal a range of positive aspects that may benefit members, particularly in relation to reassurance and coping. However, negative aspects need to be addressed to maximize the potential benefit of support groups. Some of these can be addressed relatively easily through making privacy policies clearer, including health professionals to moderate content, and structuring forums to encourage the sharing of positive stories.
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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.