Maria Caiata Zufferey

Potentialities and limits of Internet health communication in chronic care: results from a qualitative study

This article explores peoples use of the interactive sections of a patient-centred website called Oneself, specifically designed to provide information and support for enhancing the self-management of chronic low back pain. Oneself includes several synchronous and asynchronous tools to interact with health professionals and lay people. The analysis was performed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitatively, we analysed the log files of 276 users who logged on from January 2007 to November 2007. Qualitatively, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenient sample of 18 Oneself users. Results confirm the perceived utility of user-centred interactive websites monitored by health professionals as a venue for self-management education among individuals with chronic illness. However, they also suggest that to achieve their full potential, these interactive services have to be characterized by several features, such as credibility, multimediality, usability and dynamism, and have to be designed taking into account the type and the stage of the illness, as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients.

Onlineberatung bei Rückenschmerzen

Die Website wurde in italienischer Sprache betrieben und überwiegend von Patienten aus dem Tessin genutzt. Patienten mit chronischer oder möglicherweise chronischer Lumbalgie wurden durch Ärzte und Pflegepersonal und über Medienkanäle rekrutiert. Wir baten sie, die Website ONESELF über einen Zeitraum von zwölf Monaten regelmässig aufzusuchen. Diese Intervention wurde quantitativ und qualitativ evaluiert.