Sue Ziébland|Sally Wyke
Health and Illness in a Connected World: How Might Sharing Experiences on the Internet Affect People's Health?
University of Oxford|University of Glasgow
context use internet peertopeer connection one dramatic transformational features yet new field agreement theoretical methodological basis scientific base underpinning activity needs strengthening especially given explosion web resources feature experiences posted patients review informs national institute health research nihr uk research program impact online patients accounts experiences health health care includes development validation new ehealth impact questionnaire methods drew realist review methods conduct conceptual review literature social health sciences developed matrix summarize results distilled wide diverse reading literature continued reading reached data saturation refined results testing expert colleagues public user panel findings identified seven domains online patients experiences could affect health potential positive negative impacts five identified domains finding information feeling supported maintaining relationships others affecting behavior experiencing health services relatively well rehearsed two learning tell story visualizing disease less acknowledged important features online resources conclusions value firstperson accounts appeal memorability stories need make contact peers strongly suggest reading hearing others accounts experiences health illnesss remain key feature ehealth act participating creation health information eg blogging contributing social networking health topics also influences patients experiences implications understanding role health care management information