PURPOSE: Messages posted by adolescents with diabetes at public Web-based forums were assessed using content analysis. METHODS: Messages (n = 340) from adolescents self-identified as having diabetes were collected from public online discussion and question/answer forums and coded with respect to age, gender, duration of illness, and purpose of the post. Request messages were analyzed using a constant comparative method to generate descriptive categories. Nonparametric tests assessed for differences among groups and between forum types and request topics. RESULTS: Most messages were from females who more often posted at discussion forums. Males posted more information requests. Six categories emerged from the analysis: life tasks, social support, medical care, factual information, management, and intrapsychic. Social support messages accounted for half of discussion forum requests; information/management requests were common in question/answer forums. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that adolescents with diabetes visit online forums for social support, information, advice, and shared experience. Females used discussion forums more frequently and males requested more information.
PURPOSE: Messages posted by adolescents with diabetes at public Web-based forums were assessed using content analysis. METHODS: Messages (n = 340) from adolescents self-identified as having diabetes were collected from public online discussion and question/answer forums and coded with respect to age, gender, duration of illness, and purpose of the post. Request messages were analyzed using a constant comparative method to generate descriptive categories. Nonparametric tests assessed for differences among groups and between forum types and request topics. RESULTS: Most messages were from females who more often posted at discussion forums. Males posted more information requests. Six categories emerged from the analysis: life tasks, social support, medical care, factual information, management, and intrapsychic. Social support messages accounted for half of discussion forum requests; information/management requests were common in question/answer forums. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that adolescents with diabetes visit online forums for social support, information, advice, and shared experience. Females used discussion forums more frequently and males requested more information.
Authors: Shelagh A Mulvaney; Russell L Rothman; Chandra Y Osborn; Cindy Lybarger; Mary S Dietrich; Kenneth A Wallston Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2010-10-27
Authors: Michelle L Litchman; Heather R Walker; Ashley H Ng; Sarah E Wawrzynski; Sean M Oser; Deborah A Greenwood; Perry M Gee; Mellanye Lackey; Tamara K Oser Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2019-03-10
Authors: Siobhan Case; Valarie Jernigan; Audra Gardner; Philip Ritter; Catherine A Heaney; Kate R Lorig Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2009-06-24 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Victoria Louise Franklin; Alexandra Greene; Annalu Waller; Stephen Alan Greene; Claudia Pagliari Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2008-06-30 Impact factor: 5.428