Please take about 10 minutes and take this survey designed by professors at the University of Georgia.  In my non-jpouch blogging life, I am an Assistant Professor at University of Georgia and I’m conducting research on the implications of social networking support sites (jpouch.org and jpouch.net) focused on the experiences of those preparing for or who have had jpouch related surgery (including the stages of temp ileo, or permanent ileo’s).  I am working with a team of Ph.D.’s from Social Work and Health Communications on this study.

Click to access survey link here:   Social Support Survey for Jpouchers and Ostomates

My motivation behind this research survey: From my personal experience with Mark and in the early days of using jpouch.org, and then our development of the photo blog here at jpouch.net, I began to realize these support sites are CRUCIAL to the coping and support through this journey.  See, back when Mark was preparing for surgery his ostomy nurse told him not to use online social supports because they were negative and people only went to them to complain.  We obviously disagreed with her and since that day I have wanted to use my Ph.D. and research skills to show the medical field the importance of social network sites for jpouch related needs.   I really want to help the medical field understand how important these sites are to healthy healing so that they will support them optimally.

Thank you so much for your time!

Sincerely,

Megan Lee, Ph.D. (also know as Mark & Megan)

Kimberly Clay, Ph.D.

Jeong Yeob Han, Ph.D.

Margerite Fenwood, M.S. Student

These posts might also help out:

• February 10, 2010 -- Making Ostomys HOT! (2)
• February 25, 2010 -- Commenter with Questions (8)
• February 13, 2010 -- Take a walk in my shoes (67)
• December 21, 2009 -- Update (6)