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Title: | Development of a support group using a virtual space for cancer patients |
Authors: | Kusumi, Takashi ![]() ![]() ![]() Ogura, Kanayo Miura, Asako |
Author's alias: | 楠見, 孝 |
Keywords: | support group computer-mediated communication CMC avatar multi-user dungeon MUD cancer patients |
Issue Date: | 24-Oct-2014 |
Publisher: | Inderscience |
Journal title: | International Journal of Web Based Communities |
Volume: | 10 |
Issue: | 4 |
Start page: | 445 |
End page: | 465 |
Abstract: | We report findings from a chat log analysis of a support group in which two to five patients and one or two facilitators chatted in a virtual space; weekly sessions lasted 1.5 hrs. each, and we followed them over five years. In the virtual space, participants were represented by avatars with emotional expressions. Chat messages were analysed with a text-mining tool, exploring whether positive emotion words (e.g., ‘happy’), medicine-related words (e.g., ‘symptoms’), and informational/emotional-support messages (giving and receiving) would increase over time. We found that frequency of positive emotion words increased in Years 1–3 and remained constant thereafter; medical-related words did not increase until Year 5. Support messages increased from Years 1 to 3. Analysis of messages indicated that the patients’ and facilitators’ conversational roles changed as a sense of community emerged. The virtual support group appeared to promote positive emotions, trust among members, and mutual supportive relationships within the group. |
Rights: | © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. この論文は出版社版でありません。引用の際には出版社版をご確認ご利用ください。 This is not the published version. Please cite only the published version. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2433/192231 |
DOI(Published Version): | 10.1504/IJWBC.2014.065394 |
Appears in Collections: | Journal Articles |

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