Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - How do carers of people with multiple sclerosis engage with websites containing the personal experiences of other carers and patients?
AU - Sillence, Elizabeth
AU - Hardy, Claire
AU - Briggs, Pam
AU - Harris, Peter R.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - The Internet supports the peer-to-peer healthcare and the promotion of shared patient narratives. Websites incorporating these narratives or personal accounts are known to offer support to carers of people with multiple sclerosis, but little is known about how carers make choices about what websites to visit and why. In total, 20 carers viewed a range of websites and online personal accounts about multiple sclerosis and subsequently took part in either a group discussion or an individual interview, followed by 2 weeks and 12 months and later by a telephone interview. Data were subjected to thematic analysis with the aim of understanding more about what drives engagement with the stories of others. We found that carers' interpersonal and coping needs shaped their selection of online narratives, and that they were most likely to engage with online personal accounts that provided a good match in terms of experience and perspective.
AB - The Internet supports the peer-to-peer healthcare and the promotion of shared patient narratives. Websites incorporating these narratives or personal accounts are known to offer support to carers of people with multiple sclerosis, but little is known about how carers make choices about what websites to visit and why. In total, 20 carers viewed a range of websites and online personal accounts about multiple sclerosis and subsequently took part in either a group discussion or an individual interview, followed by 2 weeks and 12 months and later by a telephone interview. Data were subjected to thematic analysis with the aim of understanding more about what drives engagement with the stories of others. We found that carers' interpersonal and coping needs shaped their selection of online narratives, and that they were most likely to engage with online personal accounts that provided a good match in terms of experience and perspective.
KW - Internet
KW - carers
KW - ehealth
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - peer-to-peer healthcare
U2 - 10.1177/1460458215607938
DO - 10.1177/1460458215607938
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 26460102
VL - 22
SP - 1045
EP - 1054
JO - Health Informatics Journal
JF - Health Informatics Journal
SN - 1460-4582
IS - 4
ER -