Patient Considerations of Social Media Account Management After Death

Social Media Use in Advanced Cancer: Patient Considerations of Social Media Account Management After Death

This study examines how supportive care clinic patients have made decisions or had discussions about how their caregivers or family should manage their social media account(s) after death. Collecting information on the use of social media and preferences will allow for a better understanding of patient's needs in the dying process and may identify populations in need of education, identify a possible source of anxiety and stress, and allow for an informed discussion of digital legacy.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Hematopoietic and Lymphoid System Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Questionnaire Administration

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Identify the proportion of patients with advanced cancer in the supportive cancer clinic who have had discussions regarding their social media account (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) management after death.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Identify the proportion of social media participation among advanced cancer patients seen in the supportive care clinic.

II. Evaluate the baseline awareness advanced cancer patients seen in the supportive care clinic have regarding how their Facebook account may be managed after death.

III. Evaluate affect changes and distress as a result from the conversation regarding their social media account management after death.

IV. Evaluate if discussion of social media account management among patients with advanced cancer in the supportive cancer clinic will increase their awareness of and motivation to address their social media account management options.

OUTLINE:

Patients complete questionnaires over 30 minutes about level of anxiety and social media use and management.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 117

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • M D Anderson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with advanced cancer attending outpatient Supportive Care Clinic at M D Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with at least 1 follow-up visit to the outpatient Supportive Care Clinic at MDACC
• Patients with any type of advanced cancer
• Patients aged 18 years or older
• Patients who have used social media
• Patients able to read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Delirium as diagnosed by treating Supportive Care Center (SCC) physician or Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) score >= 7

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Observational (questionnaires); Patients complete questionnaires over 30 minutes about level of anxiety and social media use and management.	Other: Questionnaire Administration; Complete questionnaires

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of patients with advanced cancer in the supportive cancer clinic who have had discussions regarding their social media account	Will be measured by Question 10 in the survey: "I have had conversations with my family or friends regarding how I would like any of my social media accounts managed after death", which contains five options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Agree, or Strongly Agree. The results will be dichotomized into either "Strongly Agree/Agree" or "Neither Agree or Disagree/ Disagree/Strongly Disagree". A two-sided 95% confidence interval will extend a maximum of 0.063 from the proportion of main interest.	through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jacqueline M Tschanz, MD, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• MD Anderson Cancer Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 22, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 1, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): September 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 16, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019-1171 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center); NCI-2021-04176 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No