Allison A Lewinski1, Edwin B Fisher2. 1. Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA Allison.lewinski@duke.edu. 2. University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Peers for Progress, a Program of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Interventions via the internet provide support to individuals managing chronic illness. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine how the features of a computer-mediated environment influence social interactions among individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND DESIGN: A combination of MeSH and keyword terms, based on the cognates of three broad groupings: social interaction, computer-mediated environments, and chronic illness, was used to search the PubMed, PsychInfo, Sociology Research Database, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Computer-mediated environments enhance an individual's ability to interact with peers while increasing the convenience of obtaining personalized support. A matrix, focused on social interaction among peers, identified themes across all articles, and five characteristics emerged: (1) the presence of synchronous and asynchronous communication, (2) the ability to connect with similar peers, (3) the presence or absence of a moderator, (4) personalization of feedback regarding individual progress and self-management, and (5) the ability of individuals to maintain choice during participation. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals interact with peers to obtain relevant, situation-specific information and knowledge about managing their own care. Computer-mediated environments facilitate the ability of individuals to exchange this information despite temporal or geographical barriers that may be present, thus improving T2D self-management.
INTRODUCTION: Interventions via the internet provide support to individuals managing chronic illness. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine how the features of a computer-mediated environment influence social interactions among individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND DESIGN: A combination of MeSH and keyword terms, based on the cognates of three broad groupings: social interaction, computer-mediated environments, and chronic illness, was used to search the PubMed, PsychInfo, Sociology Research Database, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Computer-mediated environments enhance an individual's ability to interact with peers while increasing the convenience of obtaining personalized support. A matrix, focused on social interaction among peers, identified themes across all articles, and five characteristics emerged: (1) the presence of synchronous and asynchronous communication, (2) the ability to connect with similar peers, (3) the presence or absence of a moderator, (4) personalization of feedback regarding individual progress and self-management, and (5) the ability of individuals to maintain choice during participation. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals interact with peers to obtain relevant, situation-specific information and knowledge about managing their own care. Computer-mediated environments facilitate the ability of individuals to exchange this information despite temporal or geographical barriers that may be present, thus improving T2D self-management.
Authors: Birgitte B Bennich; Michael E Røder; Dorthe Overgaard; Ingrid Egerod; Lene Munch; Filip K Knop; Tina Vilsbøll; Hanne Konradsen Journal: Diabetol Metab Syndr Date: 2017-07-21 Impact factor: 3.320
Authors: Saima N Hossain; Susan B Jaglal; John Shepherd; Laure Perrier; Jennifer R Tomasone; Shane N Sweet; Dorothy Luong; Sonya Allin; Michelle L A Nelson; Sarah E P Munce; Sara J T Guilcher Journal: JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol Date: 2021-05-25
Authors: Allison A Lewinski; Ruth A Anderson; Allison A Vorderstrasse; Edwin B Fisher; Wei Pan; Constance M Johnson Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2017-04-24