Online health community

Online health communities provide a means for patients and their families to learn about an illness, seek and offer support, and connect with others in similar circumstances.

Changes in the health care system coupled with increased infiltration and use of the Internet have resulted in heavier reliance on the Internet for disease and health education. Eighteen percent of American adult Internet users currently go online to find health care information for themselves and their loved ones, with health searches one of the most popular uses of the Internet. Existing medical and health websites, such as WebMD and Health Cloud, have recognized that they will have more visitors if they offer interactive community features such as discussion or Internet forums.

Social networking and online communities have become popular for virtually all business and personal interests and needs. This trend has increased the expectation for and reliance on peer education and support for many areas, including medical, to precede, supplement, or, in some cases, replace, that of professionals. In many cases, people do not use the best judgment when relying on online communities, but the consequences of poor information depends on what the information is and how it is used. Peer reviews and ratings in an online bookseller at worst lead to a poor purchasing decision with the option for a return. Medical information can have graver consequences when poor advice is taken or is erroneously applied; or when professional treatment is not sought.

The criticality of health-related information necessitates careful consideration of how to design for usability and sociability. Furthermore, patients and their families may be under stress and the emotional burden, which can diminish health literacy, necessitates more careful design and evaluation. In addition, disease and illness have no boundaries, and participants in online health communities can vary considerably in their medical expertise, health literacy, and technological literacy, as well as in their need for education and support about a disease or condition.

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Wikipedia