Patient Considerations of Social Media Account Management After Death

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Hematopoietic and Lymphoid System Neoplasm

Treatments: Other: Questionnaire Administration

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05035667

2019-1171 (Other Identifier)

NCI-2021-04176 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines how supportive care clinic patients have made decisions or had discussions about how their caregivers or family should manage their social media account(s) after death. Collecting information on the use of social media and preferences will allow for a better understanding of patient's needs in the dying process and may identify populations in need of education, identify a possible source of anxiety and stress, and allow for an informed discussion of digital legacy.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Identify the proportion of patients with advanced cancer in the supportive cancer clinic who have had discussions regarding their social media account (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) management after death.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Identify the proportion of social media participation among advanced cancer patients seen in the supportive care clinic.

II. Evaluate the baseline awareness advanced cancer patients seen in the supportive care clinic have regarding how their Facebook account may be managed after death.

III. Evaluate affect changes and distress as a result from the conversation regarding their social media account management after death.

IV. Evaluate if discussion of social media account management among patients with advanced cancer in the supportive cancer clinic will increase their awareness of and motivation to address their social media account management options.

OUTLINE:

Patients complete questionnaires over 30 minutes about level of anxiety and social media use and management.

Enrollment: 117 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with at least 1 follow-up visit to the outpatient Supportive Care Clinic at MDACC
• Patients with any type of advanced cancer
• Patients aged 18 years or older
• Patients who have used social media
• Patients able to read and write in English

Exclusion criteria

• Delirium as diagnosed by treating Supportive Care Center (SCC) physician or Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) score >= 7

Trial design

117 participants in 1 patient group

Observational (questionnaires)

Description:

Patients complete questionnaires over 30 minutes about level of anxiety and social media use and management.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaire Administration