  Social media technologies are increasingly utilized by patients, leading to
development of online social groups where patients share experiences and offer
support to their peers on these platforms. There is limited research
investigating actual use of social media platforms by patients, issues faced in
using such platforms and how appropriation of these platforms impact patient
outcomes. A conceptual model based on social support theory and model of
technology appropriation is proposed in order to investigate factors that
influence this phenomenon. The authors propose that social support theory and
model of technology appropriation could explain the determining factors, both
enablers and barriers that drive appropriation and knowledge sharing behaviours
of patients on social media platforms.

Computers and Society