The benefits of computer-mediated communication in nursing research

Use of the Internet, and the opportunity to utilise computer-mediated communication (CMC) provides new alternatives for nurse researchers to collect data. The use of CMC for research purposes is advantageous for both researchers and participants. Through this mode of communication, recruitment of participants can be enhanced through reaching individuals who are geographically distant, and nurses have the opportunity to provide participants with true anonymity, which may be beneficial when exploring sensitive issues. This paper explores the existing literature and draws on healthcare studies that have used CMC as a data collection tool.