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A Cross-Sectional Study Utilizing Online Support Communities for Tic Disorders: the Association between Participation
Han Wu1, Wenhui Sun2, Juan Wang2
1Department of Health Policy Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract:
This study aims to investigate the utilization of online support communities by caregivers of children with Tic disorders (TD) and explore its relationship with children's quality of life, anxiety levels, and caregivers' quality of life. In this cross-sectional study, 330 TD children and their caregivers from the TD online support communities were included. They filled out general information questionnaires, self-assessment scales for quality of life and anxiety, tic severity scales, and answered several open-ended questions. Open-ended questions were used to explore caregivers' experiences with online support communities through qualitative analysis. Statistical analyses included univariate analysis, multifactorial regression, and Spearman correlation to examine the relationship between participation time and quality of life, anxiety. In qualitative analysis, three themes document the experience of using TD online support community. In the correlation analysis, there is a significant positive correlation between participation time and caregiver quality of life. Similarly, the longer the participation time, the higher the quality of life and lower the anxiety level of TD children. We also found that frequent access to online support communities can reduce anxiety and depression among caregivers. Higher per capita monthly household income and the education level of caregivers can improve the quality of life of TD children and caregivers, reducing anxiety and depression.
Conclusion:
Online support communities play a significant role in improving the quality of life of TD children and their caregivers, reducing anxiety, and providing valuable emotional and informational support.
What Is Known:
• Online support communities often provide members with information support, emotional support, online support, and respect support. • TD online support community is an online community dedicated to providing information exchange and resource sharing for TD patients and their caregivers, playing a crucial role in improving patients' lives.
What Is New:
• Quantitatively demonstrate that long-term participation in TD online support communities is associated with improved quality of life for children with TD and their caregivers, as well as reduced anxiety levels in children with tic disorders.
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