{"id":17901,"date":"2018-09-12T11:31:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T11:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/?p=17901"},"modified":"2018-09-12T11:31:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-12T11:31:07","slug":"using-the-internet-to-cope-with-cfs-me-in-adolescence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/using-the-internet-to-cope-with-cfs-me-in-adolescence\/","title":{"rendered":"Using the internet to cope with CFS\/ME in adolescence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Using the internet to cope with chronic fatigue syndrome\/\u00a0myalgic encephalomyelitis in adolescence: a qualitative study<\/a>, by\u00a0Amberly Brigden, Julie Barnett, Roxanne Morin Parslow,\u00a0Lucy Beasant, Esther Crawley in\u00a0<\/span>BMJ Paediatrics Open\u00a0Vol. 2, #1 [Published:\u00a0August 23, 2018]<\/h3>\n

Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Adolescents are increasingly using online resources for health purposes.\u00a0Previous studies suggest that online provision of information about\u00a0chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS\/ME) is\u00a0neither balanced nor consistent with evidence-based practice. However,\u00a0little is known about how adolescents with CFS\/ME use the internet for
\ntheir condition and whether this is helpful or harmful.<\/p>\n

Methods:<\/strong>
\nNine indepth, semistructured, qualitative interviews were conducted with\u00a0young people (aged 12-17) recruited from a specialist paediatric CFS\/ME\u00a0service. Interviews explored the types of online resources accessed,\u00a0motivations for doing so and how resource use related to patterns of\u00a0coping.<\/p>\n

Results:<\/strong>
\nAround the time of diagnosis, participants focused on gathering facts\u00a0about CFS\/ME and therefore used official resources (eg, National Health\u00a0Service sites) that were considered reliable. This transitioned to\u00a0exploring patient-led and peer-led spaces: health forums, Facebook and\u00a0YouTube. Participants accessed these regularly, over the long term, and
\nvalued these sites for the personal stories, emotional content and\u00a0interactive technology. Patient-led and peer-led sites supported coping,\u00a0encouraging active behavioural management, providing social support and\u00a0addressing stigmatised aspects of the condition. CFS\/ME put a strain on\u00a0normal adolescent life, such as identity and friendships.\u00a0 Online\u00a0resources allowed participants to adapt and maintain a sense of
\nnormality.<\/p>\n

Conclusions:<\/strong>
\nAdolescents who use the internet find online resources helpful in\u00a0seeking information and social support for their condition. Healthcare\u00a0services should improve their online resources to meet the needs of\u00a0younger users, providing evidence-based content in ways that are\u00a0relevant to adolescents and that can meet the needs for social support,\u00a0as well as providing information.<\/p>\n

What is already known on this topic?<\/strong><\/p>\n