BackgroundThe Web is becoming increasingly popular for gaining information on medical or health issues; with women in particular likely to search online for this type of information and support. Despite the increased use of the Web for health-related information, we need to question whether the Web and the ease of seeking health information that it provides leads to more (patient) empowerment. As well as being a time of joy and expectations, pregnancy can be a worrying time for women, especially first time mums-to-be, with unfamiliar experiences and symptoms and concerns for the baby as well as the self.ObjectiveOur aim was to explore how and why pregnant women use the Web to gain information and support during pregnancy and what they consider a reliable source.MethodsTo meet the objectives of the study, a qualitative approach was required to gather information on the experiences of currently pregnant women who use the Web to gain information and support during their pregnancy. Sixteen pregnant women took part in a semistructured interview, either face-to-face or via telephone. The interviews took place from January to March 2016, all participants were from England, and the health professionals are all employed by the National Health Service (NHS). Qualitative analytical procedures were employed using inductive thematic analysis supported by NVivo software (QSR International).ResultsPregnant women found reassurance from the experiences of others. This reassurance resulted in them feeling less alone, as well as enabling them to normalize any symptoms or experiences they were undergoing. The women understood that caution was needed at times while reading the stories of others, acknowledging the potential for extreme cases or worst case scenarios. This is particularly pertinent to the Web, as this wide range of stories may not be as easily accessible if stories where confined to those in a woman’s offline social circle. The interviews provide insights into how and why pregnant women search online for information and perhaps more so, support while pregnant.ConclusionsSearching for health information and advice online during pregnancy is viewed as quick, easy, and accessible. The affordances of the Web have provided women the opportunity to go online as a first port of call. Knowing they were not alone and reading the experiences or symptoms of other pregnant women enabled women to normalize their experience and was ultimately reassuring for pregnant women.

There is a universal recognition of the value of imagery for experiential learning and emotional connection. Therapists apply a variety of rationales for using imagery. Avoidance of using imagery in CBT practice is widely reported and occurs for a variety of personal and clinical reasons. Clinicians' own experience of imagery has a significant influence on the way in which imagery is understood, utilized and experienced in therapy. Future training and research in imagery should more explicitly address the clinician factors that can inhibit or facilitate the use of evidence-based imagery interventions.

For many the internet is a convenient platform for information however the information is not always accurate, reliable or helpful. Relevant health care professionals should continue to sign-post pregnant women to validated health information websites with the aim to reassure women during pregnancy. Further research in this area would benefit from exploring how women use the internet when pregnant and devising guidelines which can be followed and recommended when doing so.

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The evidence base for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is promising for the treatment of anger in both adults and children in most European and Western countries. The goal of the current study was to explore the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach for anger problems in Vietnam as a non-Western culture and non-English speaking country. A randomized controlled trial was undertaken with 40 adolescents for three months, using different CBT techniques. A medium effect size of .64 (Cohen's d) was found for a CBT intervention. Anger management skills of older adolescents (aged from 14 to 16) improved more than those of younger adolescents (aged from 12 to 13). The findings of the current study replicated previous studies regarding the high cost-effectiveness of CBT intervention for anger problems in children and adolescents. Furthermore, the suitability of the group CBT format for the treatment of anger within this study was consistent with other studies as well. This adds valuable evidence to the paucity of CBT literature on culturally responsive CBT in diverse populations. Despite this, more research is needed to produce evidence-based CBT for other Asian countries as well as other populations.