Social-structural Factors in the Use of Instagram by Cancer Patients

Cancer is one of the diseases that its prevention and treatment affects the integrity of individuals. Most people get frustrated when they find out they have been diognised with cancer. Part of this emotion is related to the mysterious nature of cancer, and partly due to the lack of knowledge about how to deal with it. The aim of this study is to investigate the structural and social factors affecting the tendency of cancer patients to social networks. Eighteen cancer patients that used Instagram were interviewed thoroughly. Data were concurrently analyzed, using the grounded theory. This qualitative study was conducted in the 1397- 1396 period, during which 18 cancer patients using Instagram were selected by snowball sampling method. According to an analysis of the data from the interview, factors such as depression, cancer taboo and lack of social and psychosocial support emerged, all of which influenced the tendency of patients to use Instagram. According to the statements of cancer patients using the Instagram, these patients were living in a depressing atmosphere due to the boredom from their illness. Intervening factors, such as taboo of cancer in the community, led the cancer patients to the Instagram. According to the findings of this study, it seems that providing facilities and facilitating communication through cyberspace reduce patients’ tensions and increases their survival rate.