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Purpose/objectives: To describe the experiences of patients with cancer using the Internet for information and support to manage the self-care aspects of illness and treatment, including symptom management., Research Approach: Heideggerian hermeneutics branch of phenomenology., Setting: The interviews took place in outpatient settings in the northeastern United States, including clinics, patients' homes, and the researchers' office., Participants: 20 patients self-identified as users of the Internet for cancer care., Methodologic Approach: Data were collected by informal interviews that provided the narrative stories for hermeneutic analysis., Main Research Variables: Internet use for cancer care and patient-provider relationship., Findings: Five related themes and one constitutive pattern described patients' experiences. The themes were retrieving and filtering Internet information according to personal situation by Internet-savvy people in patients' support networks, seeking hope from the newest treatment options while coping with fear in manageable "bytes," self-care for personal illness situations with meaningful information regarding symptom management, empowering patients as partners when Internet information served as a second opinion in decision making and validating treatment decisions, and Internet as providing peer support. The constitutive pattern was Internet use as assisting patients in discovering ways to live with cancer as a chronic illness instead of a death sentence., Conclusions: Patients with cancer are incorporating Internet use into their cancer care. They perceive changing provider-patient relationships when they participate in treatment decisions., Interpretation: Computer-savvy patients and their personal support networks will avail themselves of Internet information, creating the need for new interaction patterns and relationships with providers.

Purpose/objectives: To understand the experiences of oncology nurses who use the Internet in their practice when their patients use the Internet for cancer care., Research Approach: Heideggerian hermeneutics branch of phenomenology., Setting: Oncology nurses were interviewed at their practice settings (n = 13), the researcher's office (n = 5), or their homes (n = 2)., Participants: 20 nurses recruited from local and national Oncology Nursing Society meetings. Their practice sites were cancer centers, hospitals, clinics, veterans centers, communities, and Internet companies., Methodologic Approach: Data were collected by informal interviews that provided the narrative stories for hermeneutic analysis., Main Research Variables: Internet use for cancer care, nurse-patient relationships, and Internet use for nursing practice., Findings: Five related themes emerged: (a) varying degrees of Internet integration in the practice environment, (b) changing schools of thought, (c) developing Internet use for professional practice, (d) redefining relationships, and (e) new nursing skills. The two constitutive patterns are (a) integrating Internet into practice out of necessity and (b) reflecting historical changes in practice patterns influenced by technology., Conclusions: Nurses who use the Internet are developing new practice patterns that incorporate technology and foster nurse-patient partnerships. Practice environments either foster or hinder technology use. Nurse computer competency is essential., Interpretation: Findings reflect the influence of adapting technology on practice. Internet use is a catalyst for redefining nurse-patient relationships into partnerships. The movement suggests a need for nurse Internet competencies, environmental support, and consideration for patient access (digital divide). Evaluation of content in nursing curricula and of patient competencies is advised. Further research on patient experiences is recommended.