Online forum messages posted by adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

PURPOSE: Messages posted by adolescents with diabetes at public Web-based forums were assessed using content analysis.

METHODS: Messages (n = 340) from adolescents self-identified as having diabetes were collected from public online discussion and question/answer forums and coded with respect to age, gender, duration of illness, and purpose of the post. Request messages were analyzed using a constant comparative method to generate descriptive categories. Nonparametric tests assessed for differences among groups and between forum types and request topics.

RESULTS: Most messages were from females who more often posted at discussion forums. Males posted more information requests. Six categories emerged from the analysis: life tasks, social support, medical care, factual information, management, and intrapsychic. Social support messages accounted for half of discussion forum requests; information/management requests were common in question/answer forums.

CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that adolescents with diabetes visit online forums for social support, information, advice, and shared experience. Females used discussion forums more frequently and males requested more information.