Support sought and offered online for miscarriage: content analysis of a Facebook miscarriage support group.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Responses to miscarriage can vary, with many, but not all, people describing inadequate support, feelings of isolation and significant psychological distress. Limited knowledge exists about the support that people seek and offer online following miscarriage. We aimed to explore how people impacted by miscarriage use an online Facebook support group to seek and offer support. METHODS AND MEASURES: We employed directed content analysis to examine 270 opening posts and 3,484 responding comments within an 'open' Facebook support group for miscarriage. Opening posts and responding comments were coded into five social support categories using an existing support framework. RESULTS: Informational Support, particularly medical information or advice, was the most commonly sought support in opening posts, followed by Emotional Support, where people expressed their grief-related feelings. In responding comments, Emotional Support and Informational Support were predominantly offered. CONCLUSION: While not a substitute for appropriate medical care, people impacted by miscarriage seek and offer support online. Health professionals should be aware of this behaviour and discuss potential benefits and risks of online support with patients. A social support framework may usefully guide health professionals in identifying patients' support needs and in knowing how to support patients.