TY - JOUR
T1 - State of the Science
T2 - A Scoping Review and Gap Analysis of Diabetes Online Communities
AU - Litchman, Michelle L.
AU - Walker, Heather R.
AU - Ng, Ashley H.
AU - Wawrzynski, Sarah E.
AU - Oser, Sean M.
AU - Greenwood, Deborah A.
AU - Gee, Perry M.
AU - Lackey, Mellanye
AU - Oser, Tamara K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Diabetes Technology Society.
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Background: Individuals with diabetes are using online resources to engage in diabetes online communities to find diabetes-related support and information. The benefits and consequences of DOC (diabetes online community) use are unclear. This scoping review aims to map existing research focused on organic DOCs in which individuals affected by diabetes are interacting with peers. Method: A scoping review was conducted to comprehensively report and synthesize relevant literature published prior to 2018. Attention was paid to variations in study design, DOC user and platform characteristics, and potential or actual benefits and consequences. Results: Of the 14 486 titles identified, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. No overt definition of the DOC could be identified. Perceived or actual benefits associated with DOC use can be broadly categorized as clinical, behavioral, psychosocial and community outcomes. Perceived, potential, or actual consequences associated with DOC use were categorized as quality of information, risky behavior exploration, acute concerns, psychosocial, privacy, and inactivity. Conclusions: The results of this review strongly suggest DOC use is highly beneficial with relatively few negative consequences. DOC use is an emerging area of research and research gaps exist. Future research should seek to identify benefits and consequences to DOC use in experimental trials.
AB - Background: Individuals with diabetes are using online resources to engage in diabetes online communities to find diabetes-related support and information. The benefits and consequences of DOC (diabetes online community) use are unclear. This scoping review aims to map existing research focused on organic DOCs in which individuals affected by diabetes are interacting with peers. Method: A scoping review was conducted to comprehensively report and synthesize relevant literature published prior to 2018. Attention was paid to variations in study design, DOC user and platform characteristics, and potential or actual benefits and consequences. Results: Of the 14 486 titles identified, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. No overt definition of the DOC could be identified. Perceived or actual benefits associated with DOC use can be broadly categorized as clinical, behavioral, psychosocial and community outcomes. Perceived, potential, or actual consequences associated with DOC use were categorized as quality of information, risky behavior exploration, acute concerns, psychosocial, privacy, and inactivity. Conclusions: The results of this review strongly suggest DOC use is highly beneficial with relatively few negative consequences. DOC use is an emerging area of research and research gaps exist. Future research should seek to identify benefits and consequences to DOC use in experimental trials.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062381796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062381796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1932296819831042
DO - 10.1177/1932296819831042
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30854884
AN - SCOPUS:85062381796
SN - 1932-2968
VL - 13
SP - 466
EP - 492
JO - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
JF - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
IS - 3
ER -