Social Media Use Among Parents and Caregivers of Children With Cancer

Abstract

Social media as an effective source of information and support among parents and other caregivers of children with cancer has not been explored. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe caregivers’ reasons for using social media, social media sites used, and predictors of social media usage. This study sample included 215 caregivers (96% parents) of children with cancer receiving cancer-related care at a tertiary children’s hospital in the Intermountain West. Most of caregivers (74%) reported using social media in relation to their child’s cancer and reported using social media to provide and receive support and information about their child’s diagnosis or treatment. Our findings suggest that social media could be a delivery platform for future interventions seeking to meet the informational and emotional needs of caregivers of children with cancer. An awareness of how parents and caregivers of children receiving cancer-related treatment use social media can help nurses understand their ongoing informational and emotional needs. Nurses can also support parents and caregivers in selecting reputable sources of support that are accessible via social media.