ISO breast cancer survivors for new social network study

I just got an email from the Army of Women looking for breast cancer survivors to participate in a study to test a social-networking site.

Here is the info they sent:


What's the study about?

The purpose of the study is to look at the effect that a social-networking website that allows cancer patients to communicate, share information, and provide support to others over the Internet has on cancer-related distress. The social-networking website being tested is for women and men with any type of cancer, but the Army of Women is only recruiting women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

What's involved?

If you sign up for the Health-Space study, you will be directed to the study's website to answer questions about your breast cancer diagnosis and cancer-related distress. If you appear to be eligible, and if you decide to join the study, you will be asked to complete a consent form and two surveys: one before you start using the website and one after you have been using the website for 12 weeks. These surveys will include questions about your current health state, symptoms you may be experiencing, questions about your relationships with others, ways in which you have been coping with your illness, and your experience with the support group (final survey only). The surveys can be completed online, using a computer, or the research team can mail a paper-and-pencil version to you. You may also be asked to participate in a brief telephone interview 12 weeks after you begin using the website. The interviewer will ask you four questions about your experience with the online group and website.

After you complete the first of the two surveys, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive either immediate access to an online support group or delayed access, which will allow you to participate in the group in 12 weeks. Each group will be provided with access to a private website that provides a weekly, professionally-facilitated chat, a group discussion board, and a set of 12 weekly guidance exercises designed to help you most effectively cope with distress and maximize your quality of life. You will be encouraged to join in the group discussion and to participate in the weekly chat and guidance exercises.

The researchers need to enroll up to 120 women and men who have had a breast cancer diagnosis in this study. Enrollment will occur in waves of 40 people per support group, so even if you are eligible for the study you may be asked to wait a few weeks or months before you can begin participating.
Who is conducting the study?

Jason Owen, PhD, MPH, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.

Where?

Anywhere in the world

Who can participate?

You can join the Health-Space study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

• You are a woman or man over the age of 18

• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage and grade at some point in your life (there is no time limit since diagnosis)

• You have experienced some distress related to your cancer in the past week

• You have regular access to a computer, and can use the computer to go onto the Internet

• You are willing to check in with your Health-Space online community several times a week, and ideally, once a day

• You are interested in joining a 90-minute weekly group chat and/or writing about your experience with weekly guidance exercises to be posted on the study website

• You are able to read and write English

After you RSVP, you will be directed to the study's website to answer questions about your breast cancer diagnosis and cancer-related distress to be sure that this study is the right fit for you.


Here is the link to sign up for the study:

http://www.armyofwomen.org/current/view?grant_id=408


I think you might need to join the Army of Women in order to sign up; if so, it's no big deal, they just send occasional emails with information about studies related to breast cancer for which they are seeking participants. I've been a member since the beginning, and have had no problems with spam or anything like that from them.

p.s. If you don't qualify for this study or don't want to participate, but are interested in joining the Army of Women, you can do that here:

http://www.armyofwomen.org/aboutus