005 Online Health Communities: A Secret Treasury of Information on Patients (Gregor Petric, Faculty of Social Sciences Ljubljana)

Internet forums have been here before smartphones and somehow, despite all the apps, they are still very much alive, especially for health information. They give patients information, support, psychological empowerment, and self-confidence. They offer doctors and developers an insight into behavior and thinking of patients. One big advantage of online forums is anonymity which gives users a certain level of confidence about the safety of their shared information. The perception, retention, and dynamics of interaction in online health communities differ from health apps and other digital health solutions. Do you know what useful data can be extracted from conversations on forums? Comments and suggestions: tjasa.zajc@gmail.com, Twitter: @zajctjasa