Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Aging
Date Submitted: Apr 25, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 26, 2018 - Jun 20, 2018
Date Accepted: Apr 4, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Baby Boomer Perceptions of Diabetes Online Community Credibility, Social Capital, Help and Harm is Similar to Younger Adults
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
The use of online health communities such as the diabetes online community (DOC) is growing. Individuals who engage in the diabetes online community (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 than younger adults.
Objective:
Objective:
The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to describe social capital, perceived source credibility, help and harm among DOC users, and 2) to examine differences in social capital, perceived source credibility, help and harm among baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1964) and younger adult (born between 1965-1996) DOC users.
Methods:
Methods:
This study represents a subset of participants from a larger study of DOC users. Adults with diabetes were recruited from the DOC to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Baby boomer and younger adult demographics, eHealth 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 were collected. We examined relationships between variables and examined differences between baby boomers and younger adults.
Results:
Results:
Baby boomers (N=76) and younger adult counterparts (N=102) participated in this study. Participants scored their diabetes healthcare team (M=33.5, SD=8) significantly higher than the DOC (M=32, SD=6.4) with regard to competence (p<.05) and trustworthiness (diabetes healthcare team, M=36.3, SD=7.1; DOC M=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 and respectively) and high DOC engagement (r=.474, p<.01 and r=.507, p=<.01 and respectively). The greater majority (69.8%) reported the DOC as being helpful and 1.8% reported the DOC had caused minor harm. Baby boomers perceive DOC credibility, social capital, help and harm similarly to their younger adult counterparts.
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
Baby boomers are using and perceiving the DOC similarly to younger adults. DOC users find the DOC to be credible, however, scored their healthcare team higher with regards to competence and trustworthiness. The DOC is beneficial with low risk and may augment current diabetes care.
Citation
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Copyright
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