ArticleBMC medical informatics and decision making2015
Empowerment of patients in online discussions about medicine use.
Article in BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Acupuncture Topics on Twitter (Currently X) in English and Japanese: Co-occurrence Network Analysis.Cureus · 2024Article
- Understanding Health Empowerment From the Perspective of Information Processing: Questionnaire Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Can smartphone use affect chronic disease self-management among Chinese middle-aged and older adults? A moderated mediation model.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- Making expertise fit: On the use of certified versus experiential knowledge in becoming an informed patient.Journal of health psychology · 2021Article
- Communication About End of Life for Patients Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Scoping Review of the Empirical Evidence.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Article
- Promoting self-efficacy in patients with chronic disease beyond traditional education: A literature review.Nursing open · 2020Review
- State of the Science: A Scoping Review and Gap Analysis of Diabetes Online Communities.Journal of diabetes science and technology · 2019Article
- Analyzing Empowerment Processes Among Cancer Patients in an Online Community: A Text Mining Approach.JMIR cancer · 2019Article
- Family relationships with pediatricians: the maternal views.Revista paulista de pediatria : orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo · 2016Article
- "You get to know the people and whether they're talking sense or not": Negotiating trust on health-related forums.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2016Article
- Long-Term Condition Self-Management Support in Online Communities: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Papers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2016Review
- Leveraging mobile fitness apps for healthier lifestyles: How affordances drive sustained engagement.Digital healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPatient empowerment is crucial in the successful self-management of people with chronic diseases. In this study, we investigated whether discussions about medicine use taking place on online message boards contribute to patient empowerment and could subsequently result in the more effective use of medicines. We discuss the extent to which patient empowerment processes occur in discussions on online message boards, focusing on patients with three disorders with different characteristics: diabetes, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Because information is an important factor in both patient empowerment and self-management, we also evaluate the quality of the information being exchanged.
methodsWe used a deductive thematic analysis method based on pre-existing categories. We gathered and analysed 5532 posts related to the conditions ADHD, ALS and diabetes from seven message boards (three for ADHD, three for diabetes, and one for ALS). We coded the posts for empowerment processes and the quality of the information exchanged.
resultsWe identified patient empowerment processes in posts related to all three disorders. There is some variation in the frequency of these processes, but they show a similar order in the results: patients used the online message boards to exchange information, share personal experiences and for empathy or support. The type of information shared in these processes could contribute to the patient's self-efficacy when it comes to medicine use. The exchanged information was either correct or largely harmless. We also observed a tendency whereby participants correct previously posted incorrect information, and refer people to a healthcare professional following a request for medical advice, e.g. concerning the choice of medicines or dosage.
conclusionsOur findings show that patient empowerment processes occur in posts related to all three disorders. The type of information shared in these processes can contribute to the patient's self-efficacy when it comes to medicine use. The tendency to refer people to a healthcare professional shows that patients still reserve an important role for healthcare professionals in the care process, despite the development towards more self-management.
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