Action Health Self-Efficacy Assessment Tool Development for Online Cancer Support Groups

Abstract

This Work in Progress constitutes the development of an Action Health Self-Efficacy (AHSE) Assessment Tool for online cancer support groups that will permit assessment of individual AHSE while avoiding direct interventions in vulnerable communities. Benefits accrue to participants in online health support groups, but few individuals contribute even once. Those with higher levels of AHSE have been shown to persist longer and with more effort in online groups, and AHSE levels can be increased in those not demonstrating it. However, determining levels of AHSE requires direct intervention in groups. This tool for assessing AHSE supports non-invasive measurement through behavior patterns and text analysis.