Content Analysis and User Characteristics of a Smartphone-Based Online Support Group for People Living with HIV

BACKGROUND:

Although there is growing interest in mobile applications and online support groups to enhance chronic disease self-management, little is known about their potential impact for people living with HIV (PLWH).

INTRODUCTION:

We developed an innovative online support group delivered through a community message board (CMB) within a clinic-affiliated smartphone application Positive Links (PL). We analyzed characteristics of posters and nonposters to the CMB and evaluated content posted to the CMB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

For this study, 38 HIV-infected patients received cell phones with the PL application that included the opportunity to interact with other users on a CMB. Logistic regressions investigated associations between participant characteristics and posting. CMB messages were downloaded and analyzed qualitatively.

RESULTS:

24 participants posted to the CMB; 14 did not. Participants had lower odds of posting if they were white (p = 0.028) and had private insurance (p = 0.003). Participants had higher odds of posting if they had unsuppressed viral loads (p = 0.034). Of the 840 CMB messages over 8 months, 62% had psychosocial content, followed by community chat (29%), and biomedical content (10%).

DISCUSSION:

Psychosocial content was most prevalent on this CMB, in contrast to other online forums dominated by informational content. Participants who posted expressed support for each other, appreciation for the community, and a perception that the app played a positive role in their HIV self-management.

CONCLUSIONS:

This CMB on a clinic-affiliated mobile application may reach vulnerable populations, including racial/ethnic minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status, and provide psychosocial support to PLWH.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/yqWMgg

By:  Flickinger TE1, DeBolt C1, Wispelwey E1, Laurence C2, Plews-Ogan E1, Waldman AL1, Reynolds G3, Cohn WF1, Beach MC4, Ingersoll K1, Dillingham R1.

• 1 Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine , Charlottesville, Virginia.
• 2 Department of Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston Salem, North Carolina.
• 3 Health Decision Technologies , Oakland, California.
• 4 Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland.
• Telemed J E Health. 2016 Mar 22 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv insight

And: http://twitter.com/Prison Health