| Learning Objective #1: Understand the women to women intervention as a means for women to better manage their chronic health condition | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify ways in which social support is enhanced through computer-based support groups |
Objective: The goal of the Women to Women Project (WTW2) is to use telecommunication technology to provide health education and social support to middle-aged rural women with chronic illness. The purpose of this presentation is to share information, from the women themselves, on the ability of the intervention to impact management of their chronic illness.
Design: The study employs a three-cohort design. Each cohort includes three study groups: a mediated intervention (expert-guided health modules with facilitated discussion [“Health Roundtable”] and self-help support group [“Koffee Klatch”]); an independent intervention (self-guided, non-facilitated health modules); and a non-intervention.
Sample: WTW is an on-going endeavor. The data for this presentation were generated by two cohorts in 2002. Of 109 women, 95% were Caucasian, and 81% lived in MT (others in WY,ID,ND,SD). The median age was 52 and the average education 14.6 years.
Variables: The data for this presentation are taken from the women’s exchanges in Koffee Klatch. They were analyzed both inductively and deductively for support patterns.
Methods: The five-month computer intervention runs off the WebCT platform. The chat rooms are asynchronous and can be accessed on a 24/7 basis.
Findings: Progress is being made toward achieving the project’s overall goal as indicated by representative online responses: “We sure need the support from each other when times are stressed and we have medical problems. Thanks for being there for me.” “I do not feel so isolated or powerless now that we have this group.”
Conclusions: The WTW2 computer-based intervention model has the potential to advance practice in the care of people with more than one chronic illness or populations with multiple co-morbidities in urban and rural areas.
Implications: The full evaluation of the intervention will enhance an understanding of efficacy of this strategy for helping individuals to better mange their chronic health conditions.
Back to Chronic Illness in the Adult
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003