隨著網際網路的發展,醫學知識的生產、傳播方式不同以往,許多癌症病患藉由網路搜尋健康資訊,改變醫病關係,增加個人參與治療計畫的權力與決策範圍。部落格的興起,讓癌症病患擁有可自由書寫與彼此交流的空間,透過病友的轉載、分享,促使部落格使用者之間的社會網絡建立,進而形成線上病友支持團體。台灣過去對於探討癌症病患使用網路對於其疾病經驗的影響並不多,本文藉由整理相關文獻,促使醫療相關領域的專業者增加對癌症病友使用網路行為的認識,內容分成四部分,首先描述癌症患者的網路使用行為,其次說明網路醫療資訊對醫病關係及醫病溝通的影響,接下來說明部落格的特性與社會網絡,最後探討部落格書寫對於病患的可能意義。期待透過本文,學界能夠開始關注癌症病友使用網路與以部落格作為訊息生產者的特色,未來在健康傳播相關領域,增加以病患做為主體的健康傳播模式之研究。
As the Internet continues to grow rapidly, methods of generating and disseminating health knowledge are different from the past. Many cancer patients have tried to improve the doctor-patient relationship and increase their involvement in treatment decision-making. The rise of blogs has created an open space for cancer patients to express personal opinion and communicate freely. Through information forwarding and sharing, social networks among blog users can be established, and various online patient-initiated support groups can be formed. Little research has been done on the influence of the Internet usage on cancer patients' illness experience. Using literature review, this present research attempted to help health care professionals understand the Internet use behaviors among cancer patients. This article reviewed the Internet use behaviors of cancer patients, the impact of Internet health information on the doctor-patient relationship and doctor-patient communication, the characteristics of blogs and social networks, and the possible meanings for cancer patients to write a blog. Through this article, academic circles are expected to pay more attention to cancer patients' internet use behavior and the characteristics of using blogs as a message producer. Furthermore, the patient-centered approach is suggested to be adopted by health communication professionals for future research in this field.