respond to peers thoughtfully, add value to the discussion, and apply ideas, insights, or concepts from scholarly sources, such as: journal articles, assigned readings, textbook material, lectures, course materials, or authoritative websites. For specific details and criteria, refer to the discussion rubric in the Menu (⋮) or in the Course Overview Weekly Discussion Guidelines.
1st peer discussion
Danyka Harrison
Jul 25, 2023 at 5:10 AM
“Being there” has always been our motto, and as our outreach efforts continue to grow, we’ve expanded into “Share, Support, Survive.” (The African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc, 2019). The African American Breast Cancer Alliance Inc. has been formed to give support to African American women who are in the various stages of breast cancer and other cancers as well. Though primarily focused on breast cancer it also offers support to men and women diagnosed with other cancers and their family members. The website has links for geographical support group locators, specialist and African American providers, as with as financial assistance and housing programs and applications. The boards members can be found on their ‘About Us’ page as well as helpful links on the bottom of the page. From an ER nurse stand point I seldom have much to do with patients after they leave my care whether they are admitted or discharged. Providing this reference would be helpful in aiding patients that I see that have been just told they have a breast lump or a uterine mass. As well as young men who may have a testicular mass or colon issues. The site also contains links to survivor stories and support for family members as well with emphasis on carrier genes for persons whose family members have been diagnosed.
CancerCare.org provides a link for “Women of Color With Cancer Patient Support”. There you can speak to an African American social worker who can connect you to therapists and outpatient resources that patients may need and support to help talk and alleiviate the stress of a newly diagnosed cancer. “Our women of color with cancer patient support group provides a safe space to connect with others coping with cancer and is led by an oncology social worker who provides emotional and practical support.” (CancerCare, 2019).
The Cancer Support Community has a personal blog website called mylifeline.org where their mission is “We are dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.” (MyLifeLine, 2019). They allow you to create an account and track your treatments, post your story, and invite friends and close family members to follow you on your journey. I think the app is a neat idea to take away the scary stigma of cancer. Treatments are becoming more effective daily and with this day and age families don’t stay as close to each other as they used too. You can keep everyone informed with one centralized post and updating system using this website and/or app.
References:
CancerCare (2019). Women of Color With Cancer Patient Support Group. Women of Color With Cancer Patient Support Group. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://www.cancercare.org/support_groups/204-women_of_color_with_cancer_patient_support_group
MyLifeLine (2019). MyLifeLine. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://www.mylifeline.org
The African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc (n.d.). The African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://aabcainc.org/about/
2nd peers discussion
James Loughran
Jul 25, 2023 at 5:12 PM
Week 3
For this discussion, I have chosen to review websites focused on diabetes education and support. The first website I checked was https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html. This site aims at providing education on type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This website is a credible source of information as this is a recognized government agency specializing in diseases. The information comes from the CDC and is often reviewed by the CDC. The information was last reviewed within three months of accessing the article. The CDC also links research articles, data reports, and scientific articles in its resources and publication pages. According to the National Institute of Health, these criteria are important to review when evaluating an information source (National Institute of Health, 2022). The second website I evaluated is from the American Diabetes Association, https://diabetes.org/about-us. This website is a credible source of information due to several factors, such as its mission, nonprofit status, and provides resources and clinical trials. The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The last source I have reviewed is type2diabetes.com. This website provides information about diabetes and a forum for diabetics, clinicians, and caregivers to discuss things and ask questions related to diabetes. The articles on the site are reviewed by the medical editorial team comprised of pharmacists, physicians, APRNs, and RNs. The website does not endorse specific products or treatments but urges discussion with their physicians. The website does not have paid advertising on it.
From a nursing standpoint, I think these websites are excellent sources of information for patients who are diabetic or may be newly diagnosed with diabetes. The forum is an excellent place for individuals to express their concerns and feel like they are not alone. It allows individuals to understand the experiences of others. However, on the forums, not everyone lists the source of their information which may make it difficult for users to distinguish fact from fiction.
These websites are easy to find, easily accessible, and break down information in terms that are easy to understand. For a person newly diagnosed, all the medical jargon may be overwhelming. They also provide links to scientific articles and clinical trials for those seeking advanced education. They promote reaching a diverse population as several provide articles in multiple languages.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 24). What is diabetes? Retrieved July 25, 2023, from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Diabetes Overview. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, May 4). How to Evaluate Health Information on the Internet: Questions and Answers. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/How_To_Evaluate_Health_Information_on_the_Internet_Questions_and_Answers.aspx
