Perceptions of the Diabetes Online Community's Credibility, Social Capital, and Help and Harm: Cross-Sectional Comparison Between Baby Boomers and Younger Adults.

Michelle L Litchman,Linda S Edelman

doi:10.2196/10857

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of online health communities such as the diabetes online community (DOC) is growing. Individuals who engage in the DOC are able to interact with peers who have the same medical condition. It is not known if older adults are perceiving the DOC differently compared with younger adults.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to explore and understand how the DOC is perceived in terms of social capital, source credibility, and help and harm. The findings from this study will shed light on how users of different age groups (baby boomers and younger adult counterparts) perceive DOC use.MethodsThis study represents a subset of participants from a larger study of DOC users. Baby boomers and younger adults with diabetes were recruited from the DOC to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Demographics, electronic health use (reasons to join the DOC, DOC intensity, DOC engagement, internet social capital, and help or harm from the DOC), source credibility, health-related quality of life, and diabetes self-care data were collected. We examined the differences between baby boomer and younger adult responses.ResultsThe participants included baby boomers (N=76) and younger adult counterparts (N=102). Participants scored their diabetes health care team (mean 33.5 [SD 8]) significantly higher than the DOC (mean 32 [SD 6.4]) with regard to competence (P<.05) and trustworthiness (diabetes health care team mean 36.3 [SD 7.1]; DOC mean 33.6 [SD 6.2]; P<.001). High bonding and bridging social capital correlated with high DOC intensity (r=.629; P<.001 and r=.676; P<.001, respectively) and high DOC engagement (r=.474; P<.01 and r=.507; P≤.01, respectively). The greater majority (69.8%) reported the DOC as being helpful, and 1.8% reported that the DOC had caused minor harm. Baby boomers perceived DOC credibility, social capital, help, and harm similarly to their younger adult counterparts.ConclusionsBaby boomers are using and perceiving the DOC similarly to younger adults. DOC users find the DOC to be credible; however, they scored their health care team higher with regard to competence and trustworthiness. The DOC is beneficial with low risk and may augment current diabetes care.

Highlights

BackgroundDiabetes is a complex chronic condition that requires ongoing attention to day-to-day activities to achieve adequate glucose management
This study focused on 176 Diabetes online community (DOC) users categorized as baby boomers or younger adult counterparts
Baby boomers were more likely to be living in the United States and more likely to have type 2 diabetes or latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) compared with younger adult counterparts

Summary

Introduction

BackgroundDiabetes is a complex chronic condition that requires ongoing attention to day-to-day activities to achieve adequate glucose management. Patients are seeking more information to assist them in making decisions about their health This is true for individuals with chronic conditions who need information that will allow them to be successful in long-term disease management. Demographics, electronic health use (reasons to join the DOC, DOC intensity, DOC engagement, internet social capital, and help or harm from the DOC), source credibility, health-related quality of life, and diabetes self-care data were collected. Results: The participants included baby boomers (N=76) and younger adult counterparts (N=102) Participants scored their diabetes health care team (mean 33.5 [SD 8]) significantly higher than the DOC (mean 32 [SD 6.4]) with regard to competence (P

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