Online Communication and Healthcare: The Diffusion of Health-Related Virtual Communities

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Paola Falcone (University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy)
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 21
Source title: Handbook of Research on Developments in E-Health and Telemedicine: Technological and Social Perspectives
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Maria Manuela Cruz-Cunha (Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, Portugal), Antonio J. Tavares (Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, Portugal)and Ricardo Simoes (Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave and University of Minho, Portugal)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-670-4.ch016

Keywords: Health Information Systems / Medical Information Science Reference / Medical Technologies / Medicine & Healthcare

Purchase

View on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

The chapter describes and analyses health-related virtual communities, which soon found their diffusion on the Internet. The chapter mainly focuses on those communities whose members are primarily or exclusively patients, exchanging online information and support, on a peer-to-peer base. It analyses their peculiarities, showing how they match users profile, desired and needs, providing them several benefits, despite initial concerns about their growth. Besides, the chapter identifies the nature and motives of the daily exchange happening among health related virtual communities members, and the peculiarities of their text-based communication, in terms of contents and style. In the last part, some implications for health organizations are identified.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Online Communication and Healthcare: The Diffusion of Health-Related Virtual Communities

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors