Paper Info
Title
Nurturing health-related online support groups: Exploring the experiences of patient moderators
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the views of moderators across a diverse and geographically broad range of online support groups about their moderator experiences and to explore both the personal benefits as well as challenges involved. Thirty-three patient moderators completed an online questionnaire which included a series of open-ended questions. Thematic analysis identified three themes: emergence, empowerment, nurturing. Several moderators declared their own diagnosis and for some, being able to share personal insights motivated them to establish the group and in turn offered validation. They felt empowered by helping others and learned more about the condition through accessing the ''communal brain''. Some felt the group aided patients' access to health services and their ability to communicate with health professionals while others worried about them becoming over-dependent. Moderators described needing to nurture their group to ensure it offered a safe space for members. Clear rules of engagement, trust, organisation skills, compassion and kindness were considered essential. Patient moderated online support groups can be successfully developed and facilitated and can be empowering for both the group member and moderator alike.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.003
Computers in Human Behavior
Keywords
Field
DocType
Empowerment,Moderators,Online support groups,Support,Thematic analysis
Social psychology,Moderation,Thematic analysis,Compassion,Nature versus nurture,Psychology,Knowledge management,Computer-assisted web interviewing,Kindness,Rules of engagement,Empowerment
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
29
4
0747-5632
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
8
0.51
5
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Neil S. Coulson115918.01
Rachel L. Shaw281.19