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. 2019 May;13(3):466-492.
doi: 10.1177/1932296819831042. Epub 2019 Mar 10.

State of the Science: A Scoping Review and Gap Analysis of Diabetes Online Communities

Michelle L Litchman  1   2 , Heather R Walker  3 , Ashley H Ng  4 , Sarah E Wawrzynski  1 , Sean M Oser  5 , Deborah A Greenwood  6 , Perry M Gee  1   7 , Mellanye Lackey  8 , Tamara K Oser  5
Affiliations

State of the Science: A Scoping Review and Gap Analysis of Diabetes Online Communities

Michelle L Litchman et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2019 May.

Abstract

Background: Individuals with diabetes are using online resources to engage in diabetes online communities to find diabetes-related support and information. The benefits and consequences of DOC (diabetes online community) use are unclear. This scoping review aims to map existing research focused on organic DOCs in which individuals affected by diabetes are interacting with peers.

Method: A scoping review was conducted to comprehensively report and synthesize relevant literature published prior to 2018. Attention was paid to variations in study design, DOC user and platform characteristics, and potential or actual benefits and consequences.

Results: Of the 14 486 titles identified, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. No overt definition of the DOC could be identified. Perceived or actual benefits associated with DOC use can be broadly categorized as clinical, behavioral, psychosocial and community outcomes. Perceived, potential, or actual consequences associated with DOC use were categorized as quality of information, risky behavior exploration, acute concerns, psychosocial, privacy, and inactivity.

Conclusions: The results of this review strongly suggest DOC use is highly beneficial with relatively few negative consequences. DOC use is an emerging area of research and research gaps exist. Future research should seek to identify benefits and consequences to DOC use in experimental trials.

Keywords: diabetes online community; peer support; scoping review; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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