Information giving in Malaysian breast cancer survivors' blogs: A thematic analysis / Wan Nur Asyura Wan Adnan Ab and Noor Aireen Ibrahim

Wan Adnan Ab, Wan Nur Asyura and Ibrahim, Noor Aireen (2017) Information giving in Malaysian breast cancer survivors' blogs: A thematic analysis / Wan Nur Asyura Wan Adnan Ab and Noor Aireen Ibrahim. Gading Journal For The Social Sciences, 20 (2). ISSN 2600-7568

Abstract

Communicating online has become an essential human activity. This includes exchanging information and sharing experience related to health and illness in an online platform such as social media, forums and blogs. Breast cancer survivors’ blog is one of the growing sources of information which internet users sought. Past studies suggest that different kind of breast cancer information is shared through blogs from jargon-packed medical information written by professionals to lay medical information written by breast cancer survivors. Notwithstanding, little is known about what kind of information available in Malaysian breast cancer survivors’ blogs. The purpose of this paper is to examine the information provided by Malaysian breast cancer survivors through their blogs using thematic analysis. The data was drawn from three Malaysian breast cancer survivors’ blogs with a total of 240 blog postings. Atlas.ti software was used to analyse the data. The analysis yielded two main themes: Medical information giving related to breast cancer and non-medical information giving related to breast cancer. It is assumed that non-medical information related to breast cancer is the most predominant information throughout Malaysian breast cancer survivors’ blogs. It is also learned that information provided by Malaysian breast cancer survivors is not meant to challenge professional knowledge or assume an expert roles but it serves as an avenue to share experience, knowledge and raise awareness on breast cancer. The findings of this study provide an indication of the potential role of blogs as one of the platforms to disseminate health information in Malaysia.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Creators:
Creators
Email / ID Num.
Wan Adnan Ab, Wan Nur Asyura
asyura.kl@utm.my
Ibrahim, Noor Aireen
naireen@utm.my
Subjects: Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources (General) > Information services. Information centers
Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources (General) > Information commons
Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Information in specific formats or media
Divisions: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pahang > Jengka Campus
Journal or Publication Title: Gading Journal For The Social Sciences
UiTM Journal Collections: UiTM Journal > Gading Journal for the Social Sciences (GADINGSS)
ISSN: 2600-7568
Volume: 20
Number: 2
Keywords: information giving, breast cancer experience, breast cancer survivors’ blogs, health communication
Date: December 2017
URI: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/29225
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