e279 Background: Many patients use Internet discussion forums to seek support and advice on medical conditions, including cancer and fertility. Online discussions about medical issues have been demonstrated to influence patients’ decisions about their care. The objective of this study was to explore online discussions that patients have about cancer and infertility. Methods: An initial search identified the three most popular forums that contained discussions about cancer-related infertility. Within these forums, a search of “cancer” and “infertility” was performed. All threads posted between June 1, 2010, and June 1, 2015 were identified. Qualitative research methods were used to identify, code, and analyze themes within the data. Results: A total of 14 threads and 133 posts were identified. Participants were both male and female and the age range of those disclosing demographic information was 21 to 44 years old. The major themes that were identified were: 1) use of forums as a supportive network, 2) sharing of experiences with fertility counseling and/or treatment, 3) consideration of alternative methods of family building, and 4) challenges encountered when seeking fertility counseling and services. Conclusions: Individuals affected by cancer-related infertility may use online discussion forums to seek information and advice from others who have gone through similar experiences, or to share their personal stories with fertility preservation with the online community. Understanding the role that these online forums play can help health care providers address the unique concerns of this population.
50 A qualitative study of public online discussion forums: exploring parents’ concerns about children’s sleep problems and views about online, community and primary care support
