We provide patient support groups with a community-building platform
We give patients a community-building platform that is similar to Facebook but unlike Facebook, and other similar services, personal information is not sold to advertisers and marketing firms. The Co-ops community-building platform is free to use and provides individuals and organizations with a service that helps patients connect and support one another – which is a fundamental Co-op value.
Check out the following blog post for information about why we provide this service and download this document on how it works.
People helping people is a core principle of what a co-op does and that is why supporting patient support groups is a natural fit for our vision, mission and purpose. Patient support groups donate thousands of hours to help people navigate the difficult diagnosis and treatment odyssey they find themselves on – no matter what the ailment, disease, or syndrome.
What patient support groups do
Are you looking for support? Consider joining a patient support group, patient support groups:
- Provide emotional support – connect you with other people like you to share experiences
- Increase health literacy – help build your ability to read, understand, and maximise the use of your health information for better health
- Educate – provide trustworthy and up to date information about the health care system, diseases, treatments and medications
- Lobby government – to fund needed services and treatments
- Provide trustworthy information – don’t rely on “ Google”, ask the patients who have first-hand experience about care providers and treatments
Canadian research shows support groups:
- Reduce depression, pain, and anxiety [1]
- Improve coping skills [2]
- In some cases, can extend survival time
- Help you stay in the loop with latest treatment for rare diseases
- Give you a voice to help inform health care service delivery in Canada based on your lived experience [3]
- Help educate our health care professionals about the patient perspective and service delivery gaps [4]
- Help people with ongoing treatment (such as chronic illness, rare diseases, terminal illness, and cancer) successfully and effectively navigate the health care system
- Educate patients about their diagnosis and help them manage pain and other symptoms [5]
References:
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00335899
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738399111005210
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098301516301401
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03530.x
- http://www.canadianoncologynursingjournal.com/index.php/conj/article/view/274
Nominate a support group
Already part of a support group? Contact us to learn more about how we can help fund your patient support group. Email info@myhealthinformation.ca.