Expression and reception of treatment information in breast cancer support groups: how health self-efficacy moderates effects on emotional well-being.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of exchanging treatment information within computer-mediated breast cancer support groups on emotional well-being, and to explore whether this relationship is moderated by health self-efficacy. METHODS SAMPLE 177 breast cancer patients using an electronic Health (eHealth) program with discussion group. MEASURE expression and reception of treatment information; emotional well-being scale (0, 4 months). ANALYSES hierarchical regression. RESULTS Effects of expression and reception of treatment information on emotional well-being were significantly greater for those who have higher health self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Results conditionally support prior research finding positive effects of treatment information exchanges among breast cancer patients. Such exchanges had a positive impact on emotional well-being for those with higher health self-efficacy, but they had a negative influence for those with lower health self-efficacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Given that the association between emotional well-being and exchanging treatment information was moderated by health self-efficacy, clinicians should explain the role of health self-efficacy before encouraging patients to use eHealth systems for treatment exchanges.