Investigating impact of Social Network Sites use on quality of life of cancer survivors

Social Network Sites (SNSs) enable individuals to create their profiles online, add and maintain friends, interact and collaborate with each other, and explore or exchange resources including information and support. SNSs have grown exponentially and have become a major communication channels in people's daily lives. To explore impacts of SNSs use on quality of life of patients this study proposes a theoretical model based on social capital theory, social presence theory, and social cognitive theory, and validates effectiveness of the model on enhancing the quality of life of cancer patients. In particular, this research focuses on cancer survivors and investigates in what ways use of SNS by patients, may impact their quality of life. This study uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Interviews will be used to initially test the research conceptual model and to gain a better understanding of whether SNS use has any impact on participants' quality of life. Online surveys will then be employed to collect participants' perception about factors in the research model. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Factor Analysis will then be used to empirically test the model and find out which factors and to what extent facilitate the relationship between SNS use and quality of life of patients. The environment under study is the Facebook page of Ovarian Cancer Australia, where members of this page regularly participate in online conversations and provide and receive support and information from other members. The result of this study contribute to the theory and practice through development of a new model which explains, impact of the use of social network on the quality of life of cancer survivors, application of above theories in the context of SNS use and health outcomes, and proposing a platform which helps health organizations to tailor future survivorship program by using SNSs.