“Impact of Informational and Social Support Services on Patient’s Perceived Satisfaction from Virtual Pathology Communities”

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social support play an important role in cancer diagnosis
& treatment. The online community ‘CHESS’ provide
benefits to patients by providing social support [5].
Support Services Forum can become more effective and
develop satisfication through Discussion Forum
(facilitated bulletin boards for sharing information and
support), Ask an Expert (patients receive a confidential
response from experts) and Personal Stories & History.
Visiting online pathology communities cannot replace
physicians or pathologists. It should not be a substitute
for visiting a physician and/or pathologist. Thus
hospitals, medical professionals, and care-givers remain
the important source of information [12,13,14].
Limitations
The study was confined to a few diagnostic centers of Indore
region only. The Sample size was small. Anxiety, lack of
interest and lack of time at diagnostic centers were factors
resisting participants to fill the questionnaire. In addition, in
this study, participation was voluntary and there were no
incentives for completing the survey.
Indian Journal of Basic & Applied Medical Research; March 2013: Issue-6, Vol.-2, P. 477-482
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www.ijbamr.com
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