| Literature DB >> 27766448 |
Tabor E Flickinger1, Claire DeBolt1, Ava Lena Waldman1, George Reynolds2, Wendy F Cohn1, Mary Catherine Beach3, Karen Ingersoll4, Rebecca Dillingham5,6.
Abstract
Social support can improve outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH) and could be provided through online support groups. The Positive Links smartphone app is a multicomponent intervention that allows users to interact in a clinic-affiliated anonymous online support group. We investigated how social support was exchanged in a group of 55 participants over 8 months, using an adaptation of the Social Support Behavior Code. Participant interviews assessed their experiences and perceptions of the app. Of 840 posts analyzed, 115 (14 %) were coded as eliciting social support and 433 (52 %) as providing social support. Messages providing support were predominantly emotional (41 %), followed by network (27 %), esteem (24 %), informational (18 %), and instrumental (2 %) support. Participants perceived connection and support as key benefits of the app. Technical issues and interpersonal barriers limited some participants in fully using the app. Mobile technology offers a useful tool to reach populations with barriers to in-person support and may improve care for PLWH.Entities:
Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Mobile app; Online support group; Social support
Mesh：
Year: 2017 PMID： 27766448 DOI： 10.1007/s10461-016-1587-3
Source DB: PubMed Journal: AIDS Behav ISSN： 1090-7165