In a study of breast cancer patients, Civan, McDonald, Unruh, and Pratt (2009) referred to patient expertise as the knowledge gained by managing and coping with disease, including practical everyday management, treatment decisions, side effects, social relationships, and daily responsibilities. Recognizing their need for information, breast cancer patients actively search for expertise from informal sources and personal networks of friends, family, other patients, or healthcare professionals not directly involved in their treatment. (Civan et al. ,2009)
Expertise can also come in the form of unsolicited offers, where family, friends, or strangers offer advice and help. Unsolicited offers can be helpful or unhelpful, depending on the patient’s openness to receive unsolicited help or how well the offer of help matches the patient’s health need.…