Objectives: Online resources are changing patient-professional relationship and care delivery by empowering patients to engage in decisions in order to cope with their illness and modify behaviors. This review analyses the psychological factors associated with spontaneous and health professional-guided internet use in cancer patients.
Methods: Searches were performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. Studies were included if they involved cancer patients or focused on the relationship between cancer patients and health professionals, describing either patients' spontaneous use of interne or a guided-structured eHealth psychosocial intervention.
Results: Seventy-seven scientific papers were finally included. Results described emotional and behavioral outcomes in cancer patients who accessed online information. Internet has long been used spontaneously not only as a source of medical information or symptom management but also for decision making or emotional and social support. Health professionals can guide internet use, providing specific web-based recommendations and developing intervention programs to better meet patients' needs, such as educational or information programs.
Conclusion: Online access is a complementary form of care that physicians can provide. Patients benefit from online resources, especially when both they and their health professionals increase their engagement with online interventions such as integrated systems or online communities.
Keywords: E-Health; cancer; cancer patients; guided internet use; oncology; psychological impact; spontaneous internet use.