Information giving in Malaysian breast cancer survivors' blogs

A thematic analysis

  • Wan Nur Asyura Wan Adnan Ab Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Noor Aireen Ibrahim Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Keywords: information giving, breast cancer experience, breast cancer survivors’ blogs, health communication

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.  

Author Biographies

Wan Nur Asyura Wan Adnan Ab, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Wan Nur Asyura is an academic staff at Language Academy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. She is currently pursuing PhD in Language and Communication. Her research interest includes Health Communication and Second Language Acquisition. 

Noor Aireen Ibrahim, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Noor Aireen Ibrahim is a Senior Lecturer at Language Academy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia. She is a Language and Communication researcher with a particular interest in discourse driven research especially in the areas of Health Communication, Professional Communication and Media Communication.

Published
2017-12-31
Issue
Vol 20 No 02 (2017): Gading Journal for the Social Sciences Vol. 20 No. 02 DECEMBER 2017
Section
Article/Paper

Copyright (c) 2017 Wan Nur Asyura Wan Adnan

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