The wisdom of patients: health care meets online social media
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- ihealth reports
- Contributor(s):
- Sarasohn-Kahn, Jane. California HealthCare Foundation.
- Publication:
- Oakland, Calif. : California HealthCare Foundation, c2008
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Communications Media Health Behavior Information Services Internet Online Systems -- organization & administration Social Behavior Humans United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- When Steve Case founded America Online, it was a Web 1.0 world in which users could search for and read information. The online environment is quickly evolving into what has been called Web 2.0, and the difference for health care consumers is transformational. Web 2.0 enables "regular" people--not just the technology-savvy--to create content online. Such user-generated content takes the form of photo-sharing, video-uploading, music-downloading, and personal blogging, among other activities supported by social networks. The technologies, called social media, that consumers are using in their daily lives for entertainment, education, and financial management are also a platform for consumers to use for health information and support. Social media on the Internet are empowering, engaging, and educating consumers and providers in health care. This movement, known as Health 2.0, can be defined as: the use of social software and its ability to promote collaboration between patients, their caregivers, medical professionals, and other stakeholders in health. Within the environment of Health 2.0, people with chronic health conditions are sharing their stories with each other, not just for emotional support, but for the clinical knowledge they gain from participating with "patients like me" in an online community. Doctors are meeting up online to share quandaries about challenging cases and solutions that work. Researchers are coming together with patients to learn about side effects in real-time to improve therapeutic regimens. This iHealthReport takes a close look at Health 2.0. Who is using it? How are they using it? What is the impact? How can organizations get involved? Finally we will look to the more distant horizon, where Health 3.0 will eventually unfold.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 24 p.
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101472833 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101472833